This was in Spiker's journal on
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Big 10’s
Filed under: Racing — Josh Spiker @ 1:44 am
Mile Prelims: I was in the third and final heat. The top 2 in each heat plus the next 3 fastest times advance. After watching the first two heats, we knew to advance on time we would need to run faster than 4:09. I was confident that I could kick and be top 2 so I had no intention to lead. Willis (Michigan) was in my heat and I know he is probably the best kicker and mid distance runner (3:32!) in the nation so I didnt want anyone to get too far ahead. Our first lap was a 67, which meant that there most likely werent going to be any time qualifiers from our heat. Burns (IU) and Hanson (Minnesota) pushed the pace, as I sat back and watched the front of the pack. Willis was sitting behind me. I took the lead with 250 meters to go and looked back with 70 to go and saw I had a big lead and jogged the last 50. Willis ran as easy as possible to qualify, because he had a 3k in a couple of hours. Both Jefferson’s won their heats easily and put the race away as soon as they decided to.
DMR: I ran the 1200 leg. We went out a little quick (59 and 2:00) and I sat in the back of the pack watching IU and Michigan. An Illinois and Michigan State runner broke away from the pack but we let them go. I went into the front of our group with 500m to go or so. I felt pretty good and IU and Michigan went right with me. We passed the Michigan State kid and were within a few meters of the Illinois runner by the end. I guess I split a 2:58 with a 57 last lap…nothing special but it was good work. We wound up getting 2nd to Michigan as Brannen split a 3:59 and looked good. Keller split a 4:03 for us, which was awesome and a huge pr for him.
Mile Finals: This field was loaded. Three of the top 4 runners (Sean Jefferson, Nick Willis, and John Jefferson) in the nation (the fastest time belonging to Nate Brannen of Michigan who was running the 800/dmr. This means the top 4 times in the nation were all from big 10 guys. Brannen had lossed his shoe with 300 to go in the 800 prelims by the way) were in the race plus Mike Woods another 4:01 miler. I had the fifth best time going into the race with my 4:01.7! The night before John Jefferson ran the 800m leg in the dmr for IU and Willis had won a fast 3k in 7:55 (with a 4:03 last mile!!!) During the warm-up, BG, Porter, and I predicted that the race would be slow because no one would want to lead, but we had no idea how slow.
We went out in 2:34! We were walking. I was sitting in the back trying not to laugh. I did laugh during the first lap and couldnt help from smiling because it was so embarrasingly slow (and I heard others in the field did the same.) The announcer had hyped the race up before, which made it even more comical. I took the lead with 700m to go…not so much to start hammering, but rather to get into a decent position…I only led 100 meters (maybe at 60 second pace) before Sean J. and Willis went by with 600m to go. I went with them and we were rolling pretty good. With 150m to go I was in 2nd behind Willis and feeling ok. I had passed Sean J. a little earlier and it took a little out of me. Sean flew back by me on the backstretch going after Willis. He got Willis right at the line…like at big 10 outdoors last year when he got me by 1/100th of a second. John caught me with 40 meters to go or so. I just could not respond and was tying up nicely. Looking back I should have probably chilled a little more with 300 to go as the Jeffersons did…they are very tactical racers and strategically race extremely well, as does Willis. I think I ran my last half in 1:54 and my last 600 in 1:23, which wasnt bad on a flat 200 meter track. It was by far the craziest race I have ever experienced. Afterwards we were all just laughing…a bunch of milers who all think they can kick…if nothing else it was a good speed session. Im sure that 3k took a lot of the sting from Willis’ legs…a 7:55 (with a 4:03 closing mile) has to effect you! This was a true championship race with all the drama confined to 600 meters on a flat 200 meter track!
I wish I could have watched this race live. All the moves and gear changes were crazy. Completely different from watching a paced race go out at 58 and watching everyone running in a line trying to record a fast time. For all those who get angered and upset by ridiculously slow championship races…Sucks for you!!!
I have a tendency to buy things when I go to races. Its kind of comical actually because I really like doing it at meets. Well I bought “Play poker like the pro’s” by Phil Hellmuth jr., an ex-UW student. I also bought 5 dvd’s (Borders was having a buy 3 get 1 free special…then I bought 1 more): Boiler Room, Before Sunrise, Before Sunset, Breakfast at Tiffany’s, and Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid…by far the most “anti-male” movies I have purchased…besides Boiler Room. Normally I just buy action or comedy but have started to enjoy some older films and slightly romantic flicks. And yea I play poker online all the time for real money at Party Poker so I thought some new literature would never hurt..plus Simon says he read some of it and now he makes decent money (and he used to lose all the time.)