3k Crazy
I'll be the first to say I was wrong!
Last week, I made a bit of a wild claim. I do my best to keep up with results, but even with the help I get from some of y’all, things still slip by. At the end of the day, if you run a fast time at a non-NIRCA race and don’t tell me or post about it on some platform I follow, I’m probably not gonna be able to find it. So, I do my best to keep my finger on the pulse of club running, and based on the information I had, I believed that MRun athletes had run all the sub-9 3ks of the season so far. If I was wrong, I asked for a fact-check.
Well, consider me fact-checked.
People came out of the woodwork to alert me of my journalistic oversights, and thank goodness! Because, well… dang. Y’all have been throwing down! I’m all for grinding in silence, but shoot me a DM next time you drop a time like this — I want to know! Though, I must admit, I do enjoy my status as a club running ~provocateur~.
Here, TO THE BEST OF MY KNOWLEDGE, is the complete list of club runners 9 minutes and under for the 3k so far this season:
Elliot Rodstrom (Miami of Ohio) — 8:33.44
Andrew Quaal (MRun) — 8:38
Zach Duval (MRun) — 8:39
Alex Wright (Purdue) — 8:40
Ben Deguire (MRun) — 8:41
Dylan Parker (GVSU) — 8:47.47
Andrew Quaal (MRun) — 8:47.79
Robert Randal (VA Tech) — 8:51.41
Wyatt Thomas (VA Tech1) — 8:51.75
Zach Duval (MRun) — 8:52
Colin Chambers (Purdue) — 8:55
Joel Gomez (Purdue) - 8:56.38
Noah Scott (Indiana) — 8:56.55
Mitch Wilburn (AkRun) — 8:56.70
Harris Naseh (VA Tech) — 8:56.77
Zami Moscoso (Purdue) — 8:56.80
Luke Linscott (Purdue) — 8:57
Samuel Yakulis (VA Tech) — 9:00
Like I said… DAMN.
In my defense, those Tech and Purdue results were from after last week’s newsletter, but I think it’s fair to say they heard the challenge and took things personally. Those 4 Hokie results were all from the same heat, and all FIVE of Purdue’s sub-9 performances were from the same race. That puts Purdue tied with MRun for number of sub-9 performances this season (5), but puts them ahead for the most runners to break 9 (5, ahead of VA Tech & MRun’s 3 each).
Additionally, Elliot Rodstram’s absurd 8:33 was run just hours after last week’s newsletter was released. Though I’m sure I’m not the first to say it, let me say it here anyway: GEEEEEEEZ. That time2 earns him a commanding league lead and puts him in strong contention for first to dip under 8:30 this season. Also worth noting is that Rodstram ran 1:58.78 for the 800m at the same meet. What I mean is the man's got range!
Boilermaker Madness
We’ve already talked about Purdue’s wild 3k performance list from last Saturday, but that’s far from all they accomplished. Zami Moscoso, not done after hi 8:56, ran a bonkers 15:06.48 for 5000m at the IWU Midwest Open for a league-leading time and an overall win.
In the women’s mile, Cara Karmolinski and Katie Figliomeni finished side-by-side, running 5:36 and 5:37, respectively. Samantha Jacobi wasn’t far back in 5:47, followed by Katelin Schwab (5:49) and Katie Gillespie (5:53). Their teammates Lukas Hessini and Nolan Pham had good days too, running 4:35 and 4:36 and barely outrunning Zach Meixner of the Kentucky Run club, who ran 4:37. Cara Karmolinski, it should be noted, also won the 3000 in 10:58.
All in all, Purdue had 8 guys under 5, 5 women under 6, and 5 men under 9 for 3k. They’ll be a force to be reckoned with at Nationals for sure. Speaking of which…
NATIONALS ANNOUNCED
NIRCA has, at last, announced the location for Nationals, and it is…… the same place as last year.
That’s right, gas up the vans and ready to head back to Olivet, Michigan this April. While a few folks expressed some frustration with the location in the comments, and I (an East Coaster) am selfishly peeved it’s 12 hours away again3, I am happy to see that the dates are set to be a bit later than last year. Mid-April is still early for a championship meet, but compared to last year's April 2-3, those extra two weeks certainly don't hurt. Besides, that's probably about as late as they can start pushing things before people's final exams start effecting attendance. If any of y'all, like me, would like to see a post-Nats summer circuit, reach out. Let's see if we can set up an unsanctioned little Diamond League of our own4.
Additionally, NIRCA has announced their half-marathon championship, to be held (relatively) nearby and on the same day.
In the comments of this post, they clarified their reasoning behind scheduling both national championships on the same day.
I have to say, it makes sense to me! And, one thing they don’t mention but sticks out to me is that, depending on event schedules and logistical executions, this means a clubber could conceivably run the half marathon champs and then drive the 2 hours to Olivet and run a track race as well. Don’t get me wrong, that’d be crazy, but that’s never stopped us in the past!
Other News:
The GVSU Snowdown Showdown saw some fast times from the home team, including Brayden Forge’s 7.15/22.13 double in the 60m/200m, Brandon Roach’s 50.14 400m performance, and THREE MEN UNDER 4:30 FOR THE MILE — Kyle McKee (4:25.00), Dylan Parker (4:27.66), and Andrew Whitman (4:29.64), not to mention Hunter Bogar with a 4:40.58.
At the same meet, Ian Petruska of Western Michigan ran 2 flat in the 800, followed closely by his teammate Joshua VanSlambrouck5 in 2:03.33
Melissa Aninagyei-Bonsu of the Illinois Track Club ran 26.82 in the 200m, and Tyler Klein ran 6.94 in the 60m prelims before finishing a solid 6th overall in the finals. He also ran 48.98 for 400m, a league lead and (see now y’all got me worried to say stuff like this) the first clubber under 50” for 400m this season.
Meanwhile, in Chicago, Da'Miyah Morgan and Ninawa Odicho both ran 8.27 for the 60m, Odicho also running 26.67 for 200m. Adam Adil dropped a 23.75 200, Anna Jablonski ran 2:28.53 for 800m (immediately followed by Bridget Brokaw in 2:29), Evelyn Rowan ran 5:38.01 in the mile, John Burns ran 4:30, Percy Moser ran 4:31, and Spencer Nelson 4:33. In the 3k, Brisa McGrath ran 10:57, and Lake Spradling ran 9:07.
And, Finally,
Singlets are in the mail! Expect them sometim beween Saturday and Tuesday, and enjoy! Race hard, for with great power (looking cool) comes great responsibility (being cool).
hough officially running this race listed as Reasably Speedy TC B)
4:35 pace for 1.88 miles
Cry me a river, Lefkowitz
I want to watch a club 10,000m championship so badly, man
Fantastic name. Like, top 10 all-time