The Weekend Review: Michigan Puts 3 Sub-Four; Ches & Gilbert Throw Down Killer 3K's

By: Garrett Zatlin

As my semester gets busier and busier, I'll only be able to focus on the main meets of the weekend. However, I have made sure to include any PA Alumni that may have popped up in the results.

John Thomas Terrier Invitational*
800
A lot of attention from the 800 will be focused on the Arkansas Invitational this weekend. However, the boys up north had a solid weekend of their own after putting five guys under 1:50. They were led by Northeastern's Paul Duffey who continues to impress me. He was able to narrowly get a win over Dage Minors (Franklin Pierce), Trevor Guerrera (Sacred Heart), and Brennan Munley (Michigan). All four ran 1:48. Julius Mutekanga (New Balance) ran 1:49th for 5th.

I'm really liking where Duffey is at in terms of his fitness. He is getting solid wins and running faster each weekend of racing. By the time late February rolls around, don't be surprised to see him as a national qualifying candidate.

PA ALUMNI 
Liam O'Connell, Junior, Boston University: 1:56.47 (51st)

Mile
It was (arguably) the best event of the week around the nation! Four men dipped under the 4 minute barrier in a very exciting race. Syracuse's Adam Palamer took the lead at the half-way point and never looked back as he eventually clocked a NCAA leading time of 3:57. He looked very strong and held his position pretty well. Could he be the DMR piece that makes 'Cuse a threat at NCAA's?

Maybe the most exciting thing that happened (especially for PA fans) was seeing Ned Willig and his two Michigan teammates run sub-four minutes for the first time ever! Willig stayed on the back of Palamer for the whole race and made him work for the win. With 200 to go, you could tell that Willig was going to go under. To make things even better, teammates Will Sheeran and Connor Mora also dipped under four minutes after charging hard down the home straightaway. When the results flashed on the board, Willig had run 3:58.09 while Sheeran and Mora ran 3:59.15 and 3:59.36 respectively.

The top 16 times for each event will automatically qualify for indoor NCAA's (before scratches). According to data on TFRRS, no one has ever run as fast as Willig's 3:58.09 and NOT been among the top 16 times. Based off of past history, Willig should be able to qualify for NCAA's (especially when you consider the number of runners that may scratch the event).

But we also have to keep in mind that Michigan may go all-in for the DMR at NCAA's. They've been experimenting with their order and Willig would almost definitely be a part of that. Now, with Sheeran and Mora also under four minutes, the likelihood of Michigan running a stacked DMR is growing with each week.

Fun fact: Both Willig and Sheeran transferred from Brown to Michigan and are now sub-four minute milers.

PA ALUMNI 
Carrick "Rock" Fortna, Freshman, Rhode Island: 4:20.32 (61st)
Liam O'Connell, Junior, Boston University: DNF

3000
Julian Oakley (Providence) got the win with a very solid time 7:54. However, he was running unattached. The next man in was Aaron Baumgarten (Michigan) who ran 7:57. He held off the Syracuse duo of Iliass Aouani (7:57) and Colin Bennie (7:58). During the past few indoor seasons, it has taken roughly 7:52/53 to make NCAA's. Obviously, those times probably wont be quick enough to be in the top 16. However, these are very nice starts and I'm sure that these three will have the opportunity to run faster later on in the season.

The next collegiate in was freshman Paul Luevano of Boston U. Somehow, this Boston U program just keeps getting faster and faster with more young talent.

PA ALUMNI
Scott Mason, Sophomore, Connecticut College: 8:39.48 (47th)

5000
Sacred Heart's Connor Rog was the top collegiate with a time of 14:21. He beat out freshman Joe Dragon (Syracuse) who ran a time of 14:24.

PA ALUMNI
Kevin James, Sophomore, Syracuse: 14:48.44 (21st)

Razorback Invitational
800
This may be the only event that was as deep as the John Thomas mile and it was certainly just as entertaining. In a field stacked with elite 800 runners, Florida's Andres Arroyo showed no fear as he led the race from nearly start to finish. He gutted out a great time of 1:47 to get the win.

Wake Forrest's Robert Heppenstall closed hard on Arroyo, but came up just short of catching him. Heppenstall, along with Carlton Orange (Arkansas), both ran 1:47. USC's Robert Ford ran 1:48.09 for 4th while LSU's Blair Henderson ran 1:49.00 for 5th.

The final runner under 1:50 was Texas A&M freshman Devin Dixon who ran 1:49.66. Dixon actually ran that time out of heat 4 (which he won). Somehow, the Aggies just continue to get deeper at the middle distances.

Mile
So close, yet so far. Mississippi's Sean Tobin went after another mile performance this past weekend only to come up short of the 4 minute barrier again. He ran 4:000.09 to get the win. Jack Bruce (Arkansas) ran 4:02 to place 2nd.

In total, 10 men ran under 4:10 in this race.

3000
In a field that was crowded with long-distance powerhouses like Oklahoma State and Arkansas, Mississippi's MJ Erb came up big and shut them down by running a 7:54 to get the win by over 10 seconds! Not only is that an incredibly fast time, but to be so far ahead of the rest of the field is pretty telling of his fitness level.

I said earlier that 7:52/53 has historically been the cut-off time to make NCAA's in the 3000. If that holds true, then Erb will be just outside of qualifying. He could, however, make it in if others ahead of him decide to scratch.

Oklahoma State's Josh Thompson and Craig Nowak rounded out the top three running 8:04 and 8:05.

DMR
It was an absolute battle between Oklahoma State, Ole Miss, and LSU as all three teams dipped under 9:40. The Cowboys got the win with a time 9:33, but Ole Miss was close by with a 9:34. Each program was anchored by their top milers (Josh Thompson and Sean Tobin). LSU took bronze as they ran 9:36.

Will 9:33 and 9:34 be fast enough to make NCAA's? Probably not, but you have to imagine that both of these programs will pursue a faster performance in February.


Columbia East-West Challenge*
800
Arturo Sotomayor (UCLA) got the first individual win of his collegiate career after running a time of 1:49.60.

PA ALUMNI
Mike Kolor, Freshman, Harvard: 1:53.80 (9th)

1000
I'm keeping my eye on Penn's Chris Hatler this season. He was a very consistent miler last season and we're starting to see him develop some speed this year after dropping a very quick 2:23 to get a win.

While Hatler may have earned the win, the Columbia duo of Rob Napolitano and Sam Ritz deserve some credit for pushing him (and themselves) to a fast time. Napolitano and Ritz each ran 2:24 for second and third.

Mile
Oregon's Tim Gorman was the top collegiate with a time of 4:01, but most of the attention was on his freshmen teammates: Austin Tamagno and Jack Yearian. Tamagno finished with a time of 4:02 while Yearian ran 4:04.

The future is bright for the Oregon Ducks, but they may have to begin worrying about Blake Haney who ran 4:09 for 11th overall. Haney failed to make NCAA's last spring and had a lackluster cross country season where he only competed in two meets. He is an All-American miler so you hope that someone like him can rebound.

3000
Edward Cheserek may not have won the NCAA XC title, but he is still the King after dropping a 7:46 to easily shake off pro's like Kyle Merber, Johnny Gregorek, and Ford Palmer. As he enters his senior year, it's hard not to think about how good he'll be when he becomes a professional and enters a training program like NOP.

Aside from Cheserek and the pro's, Tanner Anderson ran a great race and placed 5th overall with a time of 8:02.

PA ALUMNI
Ross Wilson, Junior, Penn: 8:14.54 (11th)
Dominic DeLuca, Junior, Cornell: 8:21.63 (17th)
Lyle Wistar, Senior, Penn: 8:35.86 (25th)
Brenden Shearn, Senior, Penn: 8:45.59 (26th)

DMR
Everyone who follows the sport of football has heard about a theoretical game where the Cleveland Browns play the Alabama Crimson Tide. Could a college team ever knock out professionals?

We may never know the answer for football, but on the track we found out that it was in fact possible. The Oregon men threw down a blazing 9:30 to beat out Hoka One One's DMR of 9:35. That's what happens when you have Cheserek on your side.

Penn State National*
---There were a lot of PA Alumni in here and simply too many to mention. Click on the meet name to see the full results---

Mile
Much of the attention coming into this race was on PSU alum Robby Creese (the favorite to win). So when Stanford's Jack Keelan hung on Creese's shoulder for the entire race and out sprinted him in the final 50 meters, it definitely came as surprise.

Keelan's time of 3:59.62 was a SEVEN second PR! That's an incredible amount of time of drop for any miler at this level.

Creese settled for 2nd with a 3:59 as well while Eric Holt (Binghampton) placed 3rd with a 4:06. Colin Abert (PSU) was 4th with a time of 4:07.

3000
Tim McGowan (Penn State) continues to find his groove and get a win out of the fast section with a time of 8:11. He was followed by PA alum and true freshman Nick Wolk (Pittsburgh) who ran an impressive time of 8:15 to place 2nd.

DMR
It was a tightly contested race with all four legs making the race entertaining. Eventually, it came down to Georgetown's Scott Carpenter having the better kick to finish the race. The Hoya's finished with a time of 9:33 while Middle Tennessee State and Stanford were close behind in 9:34.

The Stanford DMR ran 9:34 with Issac Cortes and Jack Keelan. Imagine what they could have done with Fisher and McGorty.

In 4th was Penn State who put up a respectable 9:40 with Dom Perreta splitting a strong 2:55 on the lead-off leg. It may not be the best performance ever, but keep in mind that everyone on this relay was a sophomore (and Perreta is a freshman). In another year or two, this team will be scary good.

UW Invitational
Mile
What may have been the most hyped-up race of the weekend turned out to be a bit disappointing when looking at the times. Justyn Knight flew all the way out to Washington looking to get a fast time under his belt for his season debut. Unfortunately, the pace went out pretty slow and it was up to Knight to take the pace. After being followed by Wheating and Kidder, Knight found an extra gear necessary to breakaway and get the win. He crossed the line clearly disappointed.

The time was underwhelming. Knight, Kidder, and Wheating all ended the race with a time of 3:59. It is highly unlikely that Knight will qualify for NCAA's with that time. Luckily, there is still plenty of time left in the season for him to run something faster. Still, I can understand why he was upset about flying across the entire country only to not get a fast enough time.

3000
Colby Gilbert my goodness! The Washington Husky took down a small contingent of professionals to finish with a blistering fast time of 7:45. A combination of gutsy running and a big kick was enough for him to get the win and an NCAA leading time. I think we all knew that Gilbert was fast, but I certainly wasn't expecting this from him. Whatever issues he had during cross country must be gone.

Another surprising result was seeing Clayton Young (BYU) run a massive PR of 7:49! Young had a breakout cross country season this past fall and it seems as if he is carrying that momentum onto the track.

But there were more impressive collegiate performances behind Young. Freshman Thomas Ratcliffe (Stanford) ran an outstanding 7:53, but was entered as unattached. I imagine Coach Milt will be doing the same thing they did with Fisher and redshirting Ratcliffe for the winter.

Other collegiates under 8 minutes include Gonzaga's Troy Fraley (7:58) and BYU's Rory Linkletter (7:58) and Jonathan Harper (7:59). This is Fraley's second 3000m this season. Although he's running well, he'll have have to find a race where he drops a lot more time. At this rate, he won't make NCAA's.