By: Garrett Zatlin
With an exam coming up and so many results to touch on, I didn't have time to address the PA alumni. However, I mention some of those notable performances throughout the post. Sorry about that!
UCLA vs Texas A&M Dual Meet
800
It was a fast race here with Hernandez getting the win in a time of 1:46.29. He was able to hold off UCLA's Nick Hartle who had a breakout race and grabbed a big PR of 1:46.73. These are great marks for both of these guys as they look to start off their season's strong. Hartle has to be pumped considering how many "so close, so far" scenario's he's been through.
In 3rd and 4th were A&M's JaQwae Ellison (freshman) and Efrain Hernandez who ran great times of 1:48.54 and 1:48.90. However, the surprise result was Donavan Brazier who failed to have an impact in the race and finished 5th with a time of 1:51. That's a slightly concerning result considering he pulled out of indoor NCAA's. Hopefully he can rebound, but this is certainly not the comeback many of us were expecting.
Chester Quarry Classic
800
PA alum Jeff Wiseman (Penn) rolls through the field to run 1:51 to finish 1st.
1500
Penn's Chris Hatler had one of the best races of his life with a winning time of 3:43. I have to be happy for Hatler who has consistently pursued the 1500/mile distance and finally leaves with a national contending time. He'll make regionals, now it becomes a matter of how well he can get through rounds.
Nick Tuck was second with a time of 3:46.
Texas Invite
800
The titans of the SEC met up to run some fast times and they did just that. Mississippi's Craig Engels with the victor with a time of 1:47.17 while little known Iowa sophomore, Carter Lilly, runs an incredible time of 1:47.32 to throw his name into the already record setting group of 800 runners throughout the NCAA.
Arkansas was able to find some more speed with Ryan Thomas who ran 1:48.26 while Dameon Morgan (Mississippi) was fourth of 1:48.95.
Robert Uhr (Texas) and Robert Domanic (Mississippi) were the last guys under 1:50 running 1:49.84 and 1:49.89
Beach Invitational
800
It was a slew of non-D1 talent that put together a great show. Patrick Weaver (Colorado Mines) ran an exceptional 1:48.93 to beat out Sacha Smart (Toronto) who ran 1:49.21. Desmond Bell (Morehead State) ran 1:49.57 and was ahead of fellow collegian Brennan Munley (Michigan) who ran 1:49.86.
Seminole Invite
800
Florida State went 1-2 with Jake Burton and Otniel Teixeria running 1:48.55 and 1:49.37
Bison Outdoor Classic
1500
It was the Cornell's finest milers against Virginia Tech ace Thomas Curtin. Unfortunately (as a VT fan), Cornell put their top three guys ahead of Curtin with Gowans getting the win with a strong 3:42 while Rainero was 3:43 and Tedder 3:44. Curtin was fourth overall with a time of 3:44.93.
So what are we taking away from this? One thing is that Cornell has developed some speed work which is now making for some dirty good talent. The other note, is that Thomas Curtin doesn't have the leg speed I hoped he did. Luckily, the 1500 was never really an option for him to begin with.
Two other interesting results were from PA alumni LJ Westwood (Bucknell) and Colin Abert (Penn State) who ran 3:45 to place 6th and 7th. At the rate these two are improving, we could see these guys at regionals and do some real damage.
5000
The Virginia Tech duo of Neil Gourley and freshman Peter Seufer went 1-2 with times of 14:02 and 14:04. Those times should get them to regionals and will be great experience for Seufer who has is showing tremendous potential as just a freshman.
10000
The battle for top collegiate was between Cornell's David Taylor and PA alum Kieran Sutton (Shippensburg). Taylor barely got the best of Sutton running 29:14.07 to 29:14.62. It looks like Sutton will be back in the conversation for D2 All-American.
3000 Steeplechase
Virginia Tech's Stuart Robertson was first with a very nice time of 8:57. His PR is 8:42, so hopefully he'll be able to bring his time down to that range later in the season.
Louisville Invite
800
Freshman Justine Kiproitch (Michigan State) shows that he's not a one meet wonder after running 1:49.09 to get the win. This is the second solid performance from Kiprotich this season after his 800/1500 double at Raleigh Relays. There's a lot of potential for Kiprotich in the future so keep an eye out for him.
1500
Rorey Hunter (Indiana) leads his Hoosier teammates through the line to go 1-4. Hunter was the winner with a time of 3:44.
Akron NE Ohio Quad
3000
Clayton Murphy wins it with an 8:19 to remind you that he can do anything
Ocean State Invite
800
PA alum Ned Willig was back on the track and got a victory with a solid time of 1:48.71. He was able to help freshman teammate Zach Emrich under 1:50 as well with a 1:49.12. Willig has now gone from 1:51 to 1:48 in a matter of two weeks. Clearly he's healthy and on a roll so watch for him to make an impact at the Virginia Challenge this upcoming weekend.
5000
Liam Hillery, Trevor Crawley, and Hugh Armstrong (all of Providence) take the top three spots with times of 14:07, 14:09, and 14:09.
3000 Steeplechase
Jordan Mann of Providence takes a step down from the longer distances to run an excellent time of 8:52. This is the first recorded steeplechase he's done so keep an eye out for him as he pursues this event even further.
Bryan Clay Invite
1500
It was an incredibly deep field that put 22 men under 3:45. The winner was Arkansas' Jack Bruce who ran 3:41.67. I can't remember the last time this guy had a bad race. Every race he's run has been outstanding and could be a potential national qualifier come June.
Behind him was Chico State's Kyle Medina who ran 3:41.80. He will obviously be in the conversation for the D2 title.
However, it was 3rd place that has intrigued myself and the writers. Freshman Josh Kerr of New Mexico was 3rd overall with a time of 3:42.09. This is an excellent time for Kerr who really only had a 4:05 (mile) and 1:51 to boast. It's tough to say if he's the real deal or not, but I believe that will actually be discussed in The RoundHouse show tonight. New Mexico also added another 3:42 guy with Elmar Engholm who was 6th overall
Further down in 5th place was Marc Scott running 3:42. I'm not surprised that he has the speed, but don't get any ideas, he'll be sticking with the 5k (if I had to bet). William Kincaid (Portland) dropped down in distance to run a 3:43 while Colorado's Nick Harris shows that the Buffalo's have more than just XC guys with a 3:43 for himself.
5000
Futsum Z. (NAU) is back at it with an impressive win of 13:37 beating out second place by 11 seconds. It seems like Futsum has a trend going of throwing down excellent times during the regular season, but failing to stay with the pack in a tactical race during championship season. Hopefully he can get the issue figured out this season.
The next collegiate finisher was actually his Futsum's teammate, Caleb Hoover who ran 13:58. In 7th and 8th place? Cory Glines and Nathan Weitz (both of NAU), both of whom ran 14:02. The best part? These four all return for next cross country season.
Mt. Sac Relays
800
Many were excited about the great debut from Duane Soloman, but we have to give Eliud Rutto some love for an outstanding 1:45.59. He's an aggressive runner and you have to be impressed by how consistently he throws down these fast times. He has the experience and knows what the national stage is like, so like indoors, he'll be in the conversation of a national title.
Behind Rutto were the familiar 800 faces of Robert Ford (USC), Brian Bell (Houston), and Robert Heppenstall (Wake Forest). All of those guys were at 1:47 and is another great mark for them. Fun fact, Heppenstall and Bell are both freshmen. The youngin's are clicking off top-tier times consistently. That's not too typical for guys as young as them. Meanwhile, Tre'tez Kinnaird (OKST), Simon Holden (Wake Forest), and Abraham Alvarado (Stanislanus State) were all at 1:48.
As we shift over to the non-elite section, we see Christian Harrison (Georgia) taking top collegiate honors with a 1:47.74. He's continued to progress which is a great sign, but as I see more and more guys hitting 1:47, it's getting to the point where someone running those times may not be good enough to get to nationals.
Behind Harrison was Brennan Munley (Michigan) and Patrick Weaver (Colorado Mines). Both of them ran 1:48.
1500
Will Crocker (Missouri) had a bit of a breakout race and was the top collegiate with a time of 3:42. It's a great time for someone who's constantly been at the top of the results, but hasn't had too many races where he's truly broken out. Behind Crocker was Shyan Vaziri (UC Santa Barbara) and Ferdinand Edman (UCLA) who ran 3:42 and 3:43 respectively. Vaziri ran unattached last season and was killing it in the 1500 with a (if I remember correctly) 3:41. Watch out for him to be a key factor in the 1500 scene this year.
5000
In a field of stacked D1 talent, it was D2 standout Sydney Gidabuday (Adams State) out kicking Patrick Corona (Air Force), Mason Ferlic (Michigan), and Pierce Murphy (Colorado) to have a final time of 13:36.83. That is an incredible time for the redshirt freshman. It's a huge breakout race for him and will be a problem for any of his opponents throughout his career.
Patrick Corona moved up in distance to finish with an excellent time of 13:37. I always thought of him as a miler, but after that race I would think he needs to reconsider what he's going to pursue.
Mason Ferlic established his endurance and talent with a 13:37 while Pierce Murphy was a step behind with a 13:38. Murphy was typically pretty solid with his closing speed this past indoor season, but he wasn't able to show it this past weekend. Still, the time is impressive and I'm not looking too much into it.
The final man to break 13:40 was Johnnie Guy (Southern Indiana) who ran 13:39. It's an impressive mark for someone who really only had a fast 10k last season to boast. Hopefully we see him in another fast race this season.
10000
The man of the day was Shaun Thompson (Duke) who ran an NCAA-leading 28:47 to dominate the collegiates in his field. He led Amon Terer (Campbell) under 29 minutes as well with a time of 28:54. Other impressive performances included Reed Fischer (Drake) running 29:09 and Ben Flanagan (Michigan) running 29:13.
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