2013 Ivy League Heptagonal Indoor Track & Field Championships: Men’s Mid-D & Distance Preview

*LRC Additional NCAA Conference Previews Here
*MB: LetsRun.com’s 2013 NCAA Indoor Track & Field Conference Championship Previews Are Now Live – Discuss them here

by Isaac Wood for LetsRun.com
February 20, 2013

LRC Editor’s note: Since the founders of LetsRun.com went to Heps schools, we wrote a brief overall preview for this one that supplements Isaac Wood‘s analysis. Then LetsRun.com co-founder Robert Johnson (“Rojo”), who coached in the league for the last decade for Cornell up until this summer, added in a few comments after a few events. Robert wants it to be known, he had nothing to do with the individual predictions. All the blame/credit goes to Isaac Wood.

LRC Preview: Last year, the Tigers of Princeton were incredible as they had at least two scorers in all of the mid-d and distance events – so good they sent Rojo into retirement at age 38. Princeton went 1-4 in the 800, 1-6 in the 1000, 2-3 in the mile, 2-3 in the 3,000, and 1-2-4 in the 5,000 as only 3:35 man Kyle Merber and a huge upset by John Bleday in the 3,000 over Donn Cabral and Joe Stilin prevented the Tigers from winning all of the individual events.

The Tigers were incredible at Heps in cross-country – they went 1-2-4-7-12. Will their dominant talent dominate once again? The Tigers hope so if they are going to upend Cornell in the team battle once again as they go for the second three-year triple crown (XC, indoor, outdoor) of coach Fred Samara‘s tenure (the Tigers have won the last 7 Heps contested).

TFRRS-wise the Tigers have been laying low so far this year, which is a bit surprising as their new coach Jason Vigilante has always been viewed as a mid-d guru at UVA with XC being less of a calling card. After the Tigers XC domination, the Ivy League coaches were likely fearing the wrath of Vig being unleashed on them in track. Have the Tigers been injured or just resting up for a long outdoor campaign?

Where are the guys who went 1-2-4 in XC? Chris Bendsten is seeded 9th in the 3,000 and was just 6th in the mile at HYP, Alejandro Arroyo-Yamin has no indoor results and Tyler Udland is seeded 12th in the 3,000 where he was just 5th at HYP.

What about the Tigers’ mid-d stars? Are they injured, just laying low or not in shape? 1:48.26 man Russell Dinkins has a 1:53 SB, 1:48/3:58 man Peter Callahan has run 1:51/4:18.

More: MB: HEPS Track and Field 2012-13

800m: Peter Callahan tries to make history?

This 800m race will be interesting considering the quality of outdoor 800m PRs of the athletes in the mix for the title. Not a single runner in the HEPS has broken the 1:50 mark this season, but every runner in contention for the championship has a PR under 1:50. This will make for a fun race to watch. Peter Callahan potentially returns for Princeton as the returning champion in the 800m from 2012. The injury-prone 3:58 miler has been lightly-raced all year (a 4:18 mile and 1:51 800 are his only results). If healthy, he’ll be looking to make history as he’s never lost an indoor Heps individual race. How many guys have won an individual Heps title all 4 years? Not very many.

Harry McFann of Columbia, who was 3rd in 2012 and won outdoors and has the fastest PR of the group, and has run the fastest time already this season and therefore has the edge to win this race (1:50.05 SB, 1:48.14 PR).  Others to watch for are: Russell Dinkins of Princeton (2011 Champ), Brendon Fish of Columbia, who was 5th in 2012 (very good 1,000m runner, 1:49.72 outdoor 800m PR), and Connor Claflin of Columbia (1:49.41 outdoor PR, 4:12 mile PR).

Will new Princeton volunteer assistant Robby Andrews, who was an NCAA 800 champ, be at the meet?

Predicted Place And Time

1. Harry McFann – Columbia-1:49.15
2. Peter Callahan – Princeton (if he runs, if not move each runner up a spot and Claflin to #5) – 1:49.32
3. Will Weinlandt – Cornell – 1:49.88
4. Russell Dinkins- Princeton – 1:50.21
5. Brendon Fish- Columbia (if he runs) – 1:50.64

Rojo’s Comment: I’d imagine Dinkins will run the 500 and Callahan will run this if he’s been battling injury. If Callahan runs this, I’d pick him to win it.

1,000m

If 2011 1k champ (and 2010 and 2012 800 champ) Peter Callahan of Princeton runs this, he is the favorite regardless if it’s one of his first races of the year. He does have plenty of guys behind him aching to take him down. Ned Willig (a frosh from Brown) has run the 7th-best 1,000m time in HEPS history (2:22.96). Brendon Fish (mentioned in the 800m) has run one great 1,000m this season finishing 2nd overall (2:24.10) in the 1,000m championship race at the Armory invite earlier in February.  James Shirvell from Yale was second in 2011 and has run 2:26.08 this season. Nick Wade of Cornell ran 4:00.00 in the mile earlier this season and was 3rd in 2011 in this race. Ned Willig and Brendon Fish are legitimate contenders to win this race. Nick Wade should be in the mix with his mile ability. John Schilkowsky of Cornell has run 4:02 and 8:06 along with a solid 2:24 PR and should be someone to keep an eye on .

Predicted Place And Time

1. Peter Callahan – Princeton 2:21.89
2. Ned Willig – Brown 2:22.45
3. Brendon Fish – Columbia 2:22.98
4. Nick Wade – Cornell 2:23.26
5. John Schilkowsky – Cornell 2:24.00

Rojo’s Comment: Mr. Wood, don’t bite the hand of your employer. Picking my ex-athletes 4th and 5th? (that’s said in gest).

Mile

The only sub-4 miler in this field is none other than Princeton’s Peter Callahan (a lot of this preview will depend on what he and his coach decide on running), but that does not mean he is the favorite. Being so lightly raced, it would be stunning to see Vig put him here. Nick Wade from Cornell has been running well this season. His 4:00.00 is good (so close to sub-4) and he is coming off of a good cross-country season which should  help him have some good strength at the end of the race (9th HEPS XC, 18th NE Regional). Maksim Korolev came on the scene in XC where he finished 2nd overall at the Northeast Regional and has run 4:02.21 and 8:09.54 for 3,000m. John Bleday is the returning champ in the 3,000m and has run 4:02.80 and 7:59.33 this season. Kevin Cooper is the top returner from 2012 where he finished 4thand he has PRs of 4:02.94 and 3:44.92. Erik Berg of Brown could be flying somewhat under the radar coming into the meet, but his 3:44.57 1,500m PR is very good and it qualified him for outdoor nats in 2012. He has run 4:03.93 as a SB/PR. Someone who has not been on the radar either is Mark Feigen of Columbia. He has run 4:04.86 and 3:44.11 for 1,500m. He was 61st at XC nationals in 2012.

If Callahan runs, it is hard to rule out one of the top returners in the nation in the mile, but Nick Wade has a great chance to take him down. Korolev is tough and will factor in, along with Schilkowsky.

Predicted Place And Time

1. Peter Callahan – Princeton 4:08.24
2. Nick Wade – Cornell 4:09.10
3. Erik Berg – Brown 4:09.87
4. Maksim Korolev – Harvard 4:10.20
5. Kevin Cooper – Brown 4:11.56

Rojo’s Comment: Aside from the Cornell boys, Berg is my favorite Heps athlete. You know how a coach always has a random dude on another team they cheer for. Berg is my boy. A savvy racer, he deserves to do well as he missed last year’s Heps after having a concussion from slipping on some ice.

Given he hasn’t raced much at all, and is injury prone, I don’t see Callahan running the mile, but Vig likes his secrecy so it’s possible a totally healthy Callahan is unleashed in anything from 800 to 1 mile.

3,000m: John Bleday is undefeated for his life

There is no doubt who the favorite is for this event. John Bleday of Dartmouth is the returning champion, has the fastest PR of the field, and has never lost a 3,000m race in his career. This race should be no different. He has good leg speed with a 4:02.21 mile PR and will most likely defend his title. Some other names that could give him a run are (a huge contingent of Princeton athletes): Jonathan Vitez of Princeton (8:04.38 and 14:09.37 5000m PR), Michael Franklin of Princeton (8:04.59, ran great 3k race at the Armory Invite, 14:06.82 5,000m PR), Sam Pons of Princeton (8:06.50), Alejandro Arroyo-Yamin of Princeton (8:12.36 PR, 14:02 5000m PR, 2nd at HEPS XC 2012, 9th in 2011), John Schilkowsky of Cornell (8:06.54, 4:02.91 mile PR), Nico Composto of Columbia (8:09.80 and 7th in 3,000m in 2012).

If Bleday does his normal thing he should win this race and therefore makes the race for second very interesting. With so many talented Princeton athletes I would expect one of them to make a run at second. Franklin has had some impressive races this season, but Vitez has the fastest time. Look for one of them to finish second.

Predicted Place And Time

1. John Bleday – Dartmouth 8:10.73
2. Michael Franklin – rinceton 8:11.32
3. Jonathan Vitez – Princeton 8:11.98
3. Alejandro Arroyo-Yamin – Princeton 8:12.56
5. Nico Composto – Columbia 8:13.10

Rojo’s Comment: Mr. Wood, you are re-hired. What a sick stat to realize John Bleday is undefeated for his life – at least in college – at 3,000. That being said, it’s seemingly hard to win the Heps 3,000 as the favorite. Bruce Hyde and I still have nightmares – Mike Baird probably does as well. At least we are in good company – anyone remember that Donn Cabral was just third in this race last year but 8th in the Olympics?

No way Arroyo-Yamin scores as he doesn’t have a time.

5,000m

The only man in this field that has broken 14:00 for 5,000m is Chris Bendtsen of Princeton (13:57 5k PR). He is the top returner from 2012 (2nd last year to Cabral), and the favorite to win this race. Bendtsen is coming off of a very good XC season with an oh-so-close to All-American 43rd place finish at XC Nationals. Mike Murphy was right behind him in 2012 and should be much of the same in 2013. Murphy has run 14:09 as a season best and has run 29:26 for 10,000m. Brett Kelly has the fastest time of the season in the HEPS with a 14:09.17 season best, and has run 29:24.58 for 10,000m. Others that might factor in are a huge contingent from Columbia:  Jake Sienko (8th in 2011, 7th at NE XC Regional), Leighton Spencer (14:20.13 PR, 7th in 2012), and Paul Ross (14:20.92 SB/PR, 8:13.26 3K SB/PR). Jon Gault was 10th in 2012 and has run 14:25.81 in 2013.

If Chris Bendtsen decides to run the 5,000m he will most likely get the win, but Mike Murphy and the rest of his Columbia teammates will not go down without a fight. Look for strong team tactics from Columbia, but for Bendtsen to get the win and Brett Kelly of Cornell to break up Columbia from going 2-5. If Vitez, Pons or Arroyo-Yamin decide to run that could really change things, but as of right now it seems as if the majority of them are focusing on the 3k.

Predicted Place And Time

1. Chris Bendtsen – Princeton 14:31.12
2. Mike Murphy – Columbia 14:33.45
3. Brett Kelly – Cornell 14:33.91
4. Leighton Spencer – Columbia 14:34.36
5. Jake Sienko – Columbia 14:36.41

Rojo’s Comment: Dartmouth’s Barry Harwick doesn’t often double up his guys at Heps but might Bleday go 3k/5k? If he does that, I think Bleday wins both or is at least a big favorite to do so. They don’t seemingly have the bodies for him to contend in the DMR but it’s really all about what they want to do.

The 3k/5k would likely leave him too tired for any last chance meets next week. But he’s only a junior and seemingly a year away from being an NCAA level guy anyway. Does he want to try to become a Heps legend or try to make NCAAs? If I were him, I’d go for Heps legend this year as getting smoked at NCAAs isn’t all that much fun and by skipping NCAA indoors, he’ll be better able to train for outdoors. He can do NCAAs next year. It’ll be interesting to see what they decide.

4 x 800

In terms of who has run what for 4 X 800 so far this season, Columbia has the conference lead having run 7:30.15 which is an average of only 1:52.54 per leg. Columbia, Princeton, and Cornell easily have four guys who can ran at least 1:51 and faster, so this time should be taken down. Princeton is obviously a mid-distance powerhouse and if they save themselves some 800m runners, they should be the favorites. Cornell could have some fresh legs with Schilkowsky (4:02 miler) and if Columbia anchors McFann, and Princeton anchoring Callahan, this could be a very fun race. Brown has some solid milers who could be decent 800m runners (Ned Willig, Henry Tufnell, Erik Berg, Colin Savage and Kevin Cooper).

Prediction

1. Princeton
2. Columbia
3. Brown
4. Penn

Rojo’s Comment: Isaac’s initial preview didn’t have a 4 x 800 in it as what conferences have a 4 x 800 and a DMR? So we can’t blame him for not nailing this event. To be truthful, trying to predict the DMR / 4 x 800 is tough as most teams don’t have the bodies to try to win both relays so they often go big in just one. Also you never know what individual studs are going to double and if they double, they are normally spent for the relays. Case in point, when Jimmy Wyner was at Cornell, Cornell at one point won five straight IC4A 4 x 800 titles but never a Heps 4 x 800 as he was normally being maxed out in other events at Heps.

We don’t think Princeton is the favorite here. They aren’t on paper the same team that won the DMR and 4 x mile at Penn Relays last year.

Columbia has the top 3 seeds in the 800 and has won this event the last two years and have McFann on anchor. They are big favorites here.

That being said, if there is an in-form Callahan anchoring a relay, whichever one that is, Princeton is the favorite for that race. I have that much respect for the guy. If Schilkowsky goes 3k/DMR and Wade anchors here, Cornell might have a chance.

DMR

If there is any question about what team is most likely going to win this race, then you need to go back and read the rest of the preview, because it is obvious what team is bound to have a powerhouse DMR. Princeton is absolutely loaded from 800m and up and should dominate. Although, Columbia is the returning champion, without Merber they will miss his 3:35 1,500m speed. Columbia should put up a good battle (Fish and McFann are solid 800 and 1,200m options) and Cornell will as well with Wade anchoring and Schilkowsky having some good speed (4:02 and 2:24 1,000m PR).

Prediction

1.    Princeton
2.    Cornell
2.    Columbia
3.    Brown
4.    Penn

Rojo’s Comment: Princeton is only the favorite here if Callahan is in form. If he’s not anchoring, they are seemingly in big trouble as their next miler has run just 4:06. Guys who go 3k/DMR have a huge advantage in my book as they are fresher for this race versus guys coming back from the Sunday finals.

If Bleday doesn’t go 3k/5k, he goes 3k/DMR but Dartmouth only has one guy ranked in the top 20 in the 800 and one in the 1k so I think he’ll be too far out of it to be a factor unless it’s a TOTAL jog fest up front.

More: *LRC Additional NCAA Conference Previews Here
*MB: LetsRun.com’s 2013 NCAA Indoor Track & Field Conference Championship Previews Are Now Live – Discuss them here