One of the bigger meets this past weekend was Raleigh Relays. Typically there aren’t a lot of great D1 results here, but there are usually quite a few D2 national qualifiers, and there were quite a few PA alums running there this past weekend. The times weren’t stellar this year, but the weather was pretty nasty both days. Friday was pretty cold by the time distance races got going, I think it was around 45 degrees when I raced, and Saturday was brutally windy.
800
I was really excited for this race going into the meet. The slowest seed time was a 1:52.77, and there were a few pretty big names entered, including Pennsylvania’s own Ned Willig. Unfortunately, the race didn’t play out quite as well as I had hoped it would. I think the weather played a large part in this, as well as the fact that a lot of people were doubling back from the 1500. Drew Windle ended up grabbing his second victory of the weekend in 1:49.92, taking control with just over 400 to go and never looking back. Unfortunately, Ned Willig was a no show. The results say he was a DNF, but I don’t remember ever seeing him on the start line, so I don’t think that’s the case. Behind Windle, Ethan Barnes closed well to take second in 1:51.17, and Wake Forest’s Simon Holden rounded out the top three with a 1:51.70.
I was really excited for this race going into the meet. The slowest seed time was a 1:52.77, and there were a few pretty big names entered, including Pennsylvania’s own Ned Willig. Unfortunately, the race didn’t play out quite as well as I had hoped it would. I think the weather played a large part in this, as well as the fact that a lot of people were doubling back from the 1500. Drew Windle ended up grabbing his second victory of the weekend in 1:49.92, taking control with just over 400 to go and never looking back. Unfortunately, Ned Willig was a no show. The results say he was a DNF, but I don’t remember ever seeing him on the start line, so I don’t think that’s the case. Behind Windle, Ethan Barnes closed well to take second in 1:51.17, and Wake Forest’s Simon Holden rounded out the top three with a 1:51.70.
1500
The top heat of the 1500 featured some pro studs in John Simons and Tyler Pennel, as well as Ashland’s Drew Windle. I was really hoping for a fast time here, but the race turned fairly tactical, coming down to a fast last 400. In the end, Windle had the best closing speed in the field, bringing it home in 56.35 for a 3:45 and the win. Simon Holden of Wake Forest took second in 3:48.55, and Tyler Pennel rounded out the top three with a 3:48.71. John Simons was a disappointing fourth, running 3:49.26. Windle showed some really impressive speed and took down some more big names. He’s now defeated Duane Solomon, Liam Boylan-Pett, Declan Murray, John Simons, and Tyler Pennel this year, not to mention his 1:46.5 800 pb. If you’re looking for the next big name to come from D2, this is the guy you should be watching.
The top heat of the 1500 featured some pro studs in John Simons and Tyler Pennel, as well as Ashland’s Drew Windle. I was really hoping for a fast time here, but the race turned fairly tactical, coming down to a fast last 400. In the end, Windle had the best closing speed in the field, bringing it home in 56.35 for a 3:45 and the win. Simon Holden of Wake Forest took second in 3:48.55, and Tyler Pennel rounded out the top three with a 3:48.71. John Simons was a disappointing fourth, running 3:49.26. Windle showed some really impressive speed and took down some more big names. He’s now defeated Duane Solomon, Liam Boylan-Pett, Declan Murray, John Simons, and Tyler Pennel this year, not to mention his 1:46.5 800 pb. If you’re looking for the next big name to come from D2, this is the guy you should be watching.
There were several PA alums in this race as well. Dan Jaskowak had a really nice race, leading for the first 1k before Ethan Homan put in a really strong move with 600 to go. Jaskowak held on very nicely though, finishing second in the heat, and running 3:54.73. A couple of Pittsburgh Freshmen had solid races as well. Eric Stratman ran 4:00.50, after leading the first 600 or so of his heat, and Billy Caldwell ran 4:01.06. Pretty solid openers from both guys, and I think they’ll be much faster by the end of the year.
5000
Not much noteworthy here. Willy Fink of Eastern Michigan takes the win in 13:51 after putting in a nice mid-race surge. He did beat Luis Vargas of Elon, who was a regional champion in xc last year, so it’s a solid win. The time isn’t really going to do much for him though. The only PA product I saw in this race was Sam Hibbs, who ran 15:00.
Not much noteworthy here. Willy Fink of Eastern Michigan takes the win in 13:51 after putting in a nice mid-race surge. He did beat Luis Vargas of Elon, who was a regional champion in xc last year, so it’s a solid win. The time isn’t really going to do much for him though. The only PA product I saw in this race was Sam Hibbs, who ran 15:00.
10000
The 10k was really solid, as it usually is at Raleigh. The Campbell duo of Kipkoech and Terer broke away a bit with about 800 to go, and held on to finish 1-2 in 29:20 and 29:22 respectively. Not far behind them was Curtis King, as he rounded out the top three in 29:24. In all, 20 guys broke 30. PA was well represented in Zachary Hebda and Chris Cummings.Hebda ran 30:09, which is just off his pb and a very good opener. Chris Cummings ran 31:17 unattached, which is also quite solid, especially for his first 10k (I think).
The 10k was really solid, as it usually is at Raleigh. The Campbell duo of Kipkoech and Terer broke away a bit with about 800 to go, and held on to finish 1-2 in 29:20 and 29:22 respectively. Not far behind them was Curtis King, as he rounded out the top three in 29:24. In all, 20 guys broke 30. PA was well represented in Zachary Hebda and Chris Cummings.Hebda ran 30:09, which is just off his pb and a very good opener. Chris Cummings ran 31:17 unattached, which is also quite solid, especially for his first 10k (I think).
Other Notes
Jack Tidball ran 9:26 in the boys 3200, getting his outdoor season off to a great start. I think we can expect big things from him this year. There were also several PA Alums in 4x8’s, and they dropped some pretty solid splits. Alec Kunzweiler led off for Duke with a 1:56.63, and Kyle Francis ran the third leg in 1:54.21. Those are both solid splits, especially considering the conditions. According to the relay card, Ned Willig ran on Brown’s team, although given his no show in the open 800, I’m not sure it was him. (I didn’t see the race because I was warming up for the 4x4) If it was, he had a 1:50.30 split, the fastest of the day. I would have really liked to see him go up against Windle in the open 800, especially given that split. Finally, Stratman and Caldwell doubled back from the 1500 for Pitt, running 1:58.94 and 1:59.18 respectively.
Jack Tidball ran 9:26 in the boys 3200, getting his outdoor season off to a great start. I think we can expect big things from him this year. There were also several PA Alums in 4x8’s, and they dropped some pretty solid splits. Alec Kunzweiler led off for Duke with a 1:56.63, and Kyle Francis ran the third leg in 1:54.21. Those are both solid splits, especially considering the conditions. According to the relay card, Ned Willig ran on Brown’s team, although given his no show in the open 800, I’m not sure it was him. (I didn’t see the race because I was warming up for the 4x4) If it was, he had a 1:50.30 split, the fastest of the day. I would have really liked to see him go up against Windle in the open 800, especially given that split. Finally, Stratman and Caldwell doubled back from the 1500 for Pitt, running 1:58.94 and 1:59.18 respectively.
Was able to talk to Caldwell. Willig was there in the 4x8 and you got him right with that 1:50 split. No clue about that open 8. Caldwell and Stratman had some complications on the handoff so that may have affected their splits.
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