Rest of the Meet: Great Finals on Tap in 1500 (Kerr vs. Engels) & 800 (Korir vs. Everybody) as Florida Goes 1-2 in the Long Jump

2017 NCAA Outdoor Track & Field Championships

By LetsRun.com
June 7, 2017

EUGENE, Ore. — Day 1 of the 2017 NCAA Outdoor Track & Field Championships is in the books. The biggest stories of the day were the 9.82 NCAA 100-meter record by Tennessee’s Christian Coleman and Tulsa’s Marc Scott winning the 10,000 just one day after being released from the hospital for a seizure. Those stories both get their own articles, which we’ve linked to above. Everything else is covered in this article, from Florida going 1-2 in the long jump with KeAndre Bates and Grant Holloway to the prelims for the 1500 and 800, where we’re set for a pair of terrific finals (Josh Kerr vs. Craig Engels in the former, Emmanuel Korir vs. everyone else in the latter). Recaps, results and analysis below. And the steeple semis as well.

Men’s 1500: Kerr vs. Engels is officially on as both men win their heats

The men’s 1500 heats went pretty much according to form as the six fastest men during the qualifying window all moved on to the final. Coming into today’s semis, we were expecting the final to be a fantastic matchup between NCAA indoor mile champ Josh Kerr of New Mexico and Olympic Trials finalist at 800 and 1500, Craig Engels of Ole Miss, and we’re certainly still expecting that as Engels won heat 1 and Kerr heat 2. Both men looked fantastic while doing it as Engels sat on Colorado’s Ben Saarel before pulling away over the final 100 while Kerr controlled heat 2 from the front.

Ivy League champion Rob Napolitano of Columbia, who ran a 3:39 at Swarthmore after the qualifying window had ended failed to advance to the final, meaning none of the three Ivy Leaguers who broke 3:40 at Swarthmore will be in the NCAA final (the other two – Chris Hatler and James Randon – didn’t make it out of Regionals). We mention that because only three NCAA athletes broke 3:40 during the qualifying period.

Heat 1 results

Pl	Ln	Athlete		Affiliation	Time	300m	700m	1100m	1500m
1	4	Craig ENGELS	SR	Ole Miss	3:40.07 Q	44.20 [44.20]	1:44.51 [1:00.31]	2:44.17 [59.66]	3:40.07 [55.91]
2	11	Joshua THOMPSON	SR	Oklahoma State	3:40.12 Q	45.26 [45.26]	1:45.10 [59.85]	2:44.30 [59.20]	3:40.12 [55.83]
3	9	Blake HANEY	JR	Oregon	3:40.40 Q	44.36 [44.36]	1:44.88 [1:00.52]	2:44.23 [59.35]	3:40.40 [56.18]
4	6	Neil GOURLEY	JR	Virginia Tech	3:40.52 Q	44.15 [44.15]	1:44.73 [1:00.59]	2:44.42 [59.70]	3:40.52 [56.10]
5	2	Ben SAAREL	JR	Colorado	3:40.71 Q	43.99 [43.99]	1:44.24 [1:00.26]	2:43.97 [59.73]	3:40.71 [56.74]
6	12	Jeff THIES	JR	Portland	3:40.73 q	45.13 [45.13]	1:45.16 [1:00.04]	2:44.77 [59.61]	3:40.73 [55.96]
7	8	Andrew DUSING	SR	Miami (Ohio)	3:40.99 q	44.86 [44.86]	1:45.37 [1:00.52]	2:44.50 [59.13]	3:40.99 [56.50]
8	5	Kyle BURDICK	SO	South Dakota St.	3:43.78	44.72 [44.72]	1:45.30 [1:00.59]	2:44.48 [59.18]	3:43.78 [59.31]
9	3	Alex RIBA	JR	Texas A&M	3:44.14	44.78 [44.78]	1:45.52 [1:00.75]	2:45.09 [59.58]	3:44.14 [59.05]
10	10	Trevor REINHART	SO	Yale	3:45.39	44.51 [44.51]	1:45.38 [1:00.88]	2:46.33 [1:00.95]	3:45.39 [59.07]
11	7	Rob NAPOLITANO	SR	Columbia	3:46.50	44.48 [44.48]	1:44.91 [1:00.43]	2:44.37 [59.46]	3:46.50 [1:02.14]
12	1	Ryan ADAMS	SO	Furman	3:49.48	44.67 [44.67]	1:45.22 [1:00.56]	2:45.82 [1:00.60]	3:49.48 [1:03.67]

Heat 2 results

Pl	Ln	Athlete		Affiliation	Time	300m	700m	1100m	1500m
1	3	Josh KERR	SO	New Mexico	3:44.60 Q	44.22 [44.22]	1:47.96 [1:03.75]	2:49.23 [1:01.27]	3:44.60 [55.37]
2	10	Justine KIPROTICH	SO	Michigan State	3:44.74 Q	44.39 [44.39]	1:48.13 [1:03.74]	2:49.45 [1:01.33]	3:44.74 [55.29]
3	8	Craig NOWAK	SR	Oklahoma State	3:44.79 Q	44.85 [44.85]	1:48.34 [1:03.49]	2:49.62 [1:01.28]	3:44.79 [55.17]
4	6	David TIMLIN	SR	Indiana State	3:44.83 Q	45.12 [45.12]	1:48.83 [1:03.72]	2:49.94 [1:01.12]	3:44.83 [54.89]
5	4	Vincent CIATTEI	JR	Virginia Tech	3:44.88 Q	44.12 [44.12]	1:47.92 [1:03.80]	2:49.33 [1:01.42]	3:44.88 [55.55]
6	5	Daniel GAGNE	JR	Bradley	3:45.04	44.90 [44.90]	1:48.53 [1:03.64]	2:49.78 [1:01.25]	3:45.04 [55.27]
7	7	Tim GORMAN	SR	Oregon	3:45.24	44.28 [44.28]	1:48.12 [1:03.85]	2:49.50 [1:01.38]	3:45.24 [55.74]
8	9	James GOWANS	SR	Cornell	3:45.39	44.63 [44.63]	1:48.51 [1:03.88]	2:49.57 [1:01.06]	3:45.39 [55.83]
9	2	Matt DORSEY	SR	Air Force	3:45.41	44.75 [44.75]	1:48.45 [1:03.70]	2:50.03 [1:01.59]	3:45.41 [55.38]
10	11	Chase HORROCKS	SR	BYU	3:45.92	44.49 [44.49]	1:48.21 [1:03.73]	2:49.81 [1:01.60]	3:45.92 [56.12]
11	12	Robbie FARNHAM-ROSE	SR	Alabama	3:50.51	44.68 [44.68]	1:48.66 [1:03.99]	2:50.11 [1:01.45]	3:50.51 [1:00.41]
DNF	1	William PAULSON	JR	Princeton	–	44.52 [44.52]	1:48.32 [1:03.81]	2:49.68 [1:01.37]

Quick Take: Despite slaying Edward Cheserek to win NCAA indoors, Josh Kerr still views himself as the underdog

The most interesting thing Kerr told us came after our interview concluded as he said that he still views himself as “number two” in this field behind Engels, pointing to Engels’ impressive run at last year’s Olympic Trials. We don’t necessarily view it that way, and Kerr did admit that, like many athletes, he likes to think of himself as the underdog.

Kerr has had an outstanding season, running 3:35 in April — becoming just the sixth collegian under 3:36 — and said that he will be comfortable with any style of race in the final as he’s been preparing for any situation.

Kerr has a shot to make the Worlds team on home soil this year (he’s one of five Brits with the 1500 standard, though one is Mo Farah), but said that NCAAs is his top priority.

“This is the main one for me. Collegiate system is what I’ve been racing in. That was the goal all the way through the year. Obviously World Championships is huge but I need to start making these small steps before I make the big steps.”

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Quick Take: Blake Haney says he’s even fitter than he was when he took third as a true freshman in 2015

Haney was only second at Pac-12s and has not received the same attention as Kerr or Engels this season, but he has produced some impressive NCAA performances in the past (3rd in 2015 1500, 2nd in 2016 indoor mile) and looked smooth today. Plus it’s not as if Haney bombed at Pac-12s — he still closed that race in 52.74, but lost to a true stud in Stanford’s Grant Fisher.

Haney got a slow start to his indoor season after suffering a stress fracture in the fall, but said he’s been at 100% this spring and is very happy with where his fitness is at.

If he winds up challenging Kerr and Engels in the final, it will mark a huge transformation over the past two months. When they raced at the Bryan Clay Invitational on April 14, Kerr won in 3:35.99, Engels was second in 3:37.75 and Haney was 13th — last place — in 3:42.86.

Craig Nowak/Josh Thompson interview

Ben Saarel interview

Saarel said he wanted to make sure the heat was fast to get into the final.

Craig Engels interview

Engels is confident with either a fast or a slow final, but would love to have a 3:35 final that would get him the 3:36.00 World Championship standard.

Trevor Reinhart interview

The two-time Foot Locker finalist did not run track in high school (he was a lacrosse player), and now made NCAAs despite missing much of the last two cross seasons with injury.

Men’s 800: UTEP’s Michael Saruni leads all qualifiers for a stacked final

Heavy NCAA favorite Emmanuel Korir of UTEP moved on to the final in impressive fashion by winning heat number one in 1:46.63. If Korir loses on Saturday, it may be to his own teammate and fellow freshman Michael Saruni, who won heat number three in the fastest time of the day (1:46.38) as #2 seed Isaiah Harris of Penn State was second in 1:46.62. The winner of heat #2 was Virginia Tech senior Drew Piazza (1:46.75), the NCAA runner-up indoors.

For the most part, things went almost exactly as one would have expected as 7 of the top 8 fastest collegians on the year made Friday’s final with the lone casualty being #3 seed Eliud Rutto of Middle Tennessee State who was last in heat #3.

Heat 1 results

Pl	Ln	Athlete		Affiliation	Time	400m	800m
1	4	Emmanuel KORIR	FR	UTEP	1:46.63 Q	51.74 [51.74]	1:46.63 [54.90]
2	2	Devin DIXON	FR	Texas A&M	1:47.00 Q	51.88 [51.88]	1:47.00 [55.12]
3	6	Clay LAMBOURNE	JR	Utah State	1:47.19	52.65 [52.65]	1:47.19 [54.55]
4	1	Jeffrey MOORE	JR	Sam Houston St.	1:47.40	52.05 [52.05]	1:47.40 [55.36]
5	3	Isaiah JEWETT	SO	UC Irvine	1:47.43	52.12 [52.12]	1:47.43 [55.31]
6	5	Nate ROESE	SR	Minnesota	1:47.61	52.61 [52.61]	1:47.61 [55.00]
7	8	Charles JONES	JR	Texas Tech	1:48.46	51.47 [51.47]	1:48.46 [57.00]
8	7	Mitch HECHSEL	SR	Minnesota	1:48.52	52.39 [52.39]	1:48.52 [56.13]

Heat 2 results

Pl	Ln	Athlete		Affiliation	Time	400m	800m
1	5	Drew PIAZZA	SR	Virginia Tech	1:46.75 Q	52.81 [52.81]	1:46.75 [53.94]
2	3	Robert HEPPENSTALL	SO	Wake Forest	1:47.16 Q	52.90 [52.90]	1:47.16 [54.27]
3	2	Patrick JOSEPH	JR	Virginia Tech	1:47.56	52.47 [52.47]	1:47.56 [55.09]
4	1	Carlton ORANGE	SO	Arkansas	1:47.56	52.68 [52.68]	1:47.56 [54.89]
5	6	Avery BARTLETT	SO	Georgia Tech	1:47.84	53.22 [53.22]	1:47.84 [54.63]
6	4	Strymar LIVINGSTON	SR	Kansas	1:48.17	52.58 [52.58]	1:48.17 [55.60]
7	8	John LEWIS	SO	Clemson	1:48.21	52.25 [52.25]	1:48.21 [55.96]
8	7	Domenic PERRETTA	FR	Penn State	1:49.14	53.00 [53.00]	1:49.14 [56.15]

Heat 3 results

Pl	Ln	Athlete		Affiliation	Time	400m	800m
1	6	Michael SARUNI	FR	UTEP	1:46.38 Q	53.92 [53.92]	1:46.38 [52.47]
2	4	Isaiah HARRIS	SO	Penn State	1:46.62 Q	53.95 [53.95]	1:46.62 [52.68]
3	2	Andres ARROYO	SR	Florida	1:46.89 q	53.65 [53.65]	1:46.89 [53.24]
4	5	Joseph WHITE	JR	Georgetown	1:47.05 q	54.07 [54.07]	1:47.05 [52.98]
5	1	Ethan HOMAN	SR	Boston U.	1:49.03	54.27 [54.27]	1:49.03 [54.77]
6	8	Matthew HARDING	FR	UNC-Asheville	1:49.71	53.75 [53.75]	1:49.71 [55.96]
7	7	Robert FORD	JR	USC	1:50.42	53.89 [53.89]	1:50.42 [56.54]
8	3	Eliud RUTTO	SR	Mid. Tenn. State	1:50.54	53.96 [53.96]	1:50.54 [56.59]

Quick Take: After being inspired by Donavan Brazier in 2016, Texas A&M’s Devin Dixon will run in an NCAA final of his own on Friday

Dixon, a true freshman, ran 1:49 in high school last year and has surprised himself by how quickly he’s ascended to the NCAA’s elite, as he ran 1:45 to win the SEC title last month.

“I remember high school, I’m used to watching national meets like Oregon you know, from the TV screen,” Dixon said. “And now I’m actually in it running times I never thought I could run until like junior or senior year.”

Dixon said he’s watched former Aggie Donavan Brazier’s 2016 NCAA win thousands of times and has studied every aspect of the race. Now he gets a chance to write his own story in his first NCAA final on Friday.

A&M is quite the hotbed of 400-800 talent right now, and Dixon said that he will train with Fred Kerley and the 400 group occasionally when coach Alleyne Francique wants him to get in some faster work. Dixon raved about Francique’s coaching and said he has been a father figure to him in his first year of college.

Quick Take: After struggling at NCAAs in the past, Florida’s Andres Arroyo made the final with a more relaxed approach

Florida is perennially in the mix for the NCAA team title, and that brings with it a lot of pressure to make finals and score points for the team. Arroyo, who made it to the Olympic semifinals last year for Puerto Rico, hasn’t been great at that in the past. In his last six NCAA appearances, he scored a grand total of one point, but by making the final today, he guaranteed that he will at least match that total.

Arroyo said that in the past, a combination of mental and physical problems have held him back, such as not getting enough sleep and not drinking enough water, but he’s been more diligent about the little things this year and it’s paying off.

You’d think that a guy with Arroyo’s record might have been feeling the pressure this time around — especially with Florida in a battle for the team title — but he said he wanted to relax and enjoy his final trip to NCAAs.

“Usually you have that pressure that I’ve gotta do good, start thinking stuff,” Arroyo said. “But this meet, I’ve just been relaxed. It’s my last race, my last meet, so just enjoy the moment.”

Drew Piazza interview

Men’s 3000 steeplechase: Collegiate leader Edwin Kibichiy leads the way but #2 seed Jamaine Coleman goes home

Eastern Kentucky’s Jamaine Coleman (GBR), who had run the second fastest collegiate steeplechase on the year at regionals (8:34.19) was the biggest casualty in the steeple prelims as he was sixth in heat #1 in 8:43.85, and missed moving on by .21.

Six of the eight men who had run under 8:40 this year moved into the final with the other casualty being Syracuse freshman Aidan Tooker, who was last in the first heat in 9:02.33.

Heat 1

Pl	Ln	Athlete		Affiliation	Time	Lap 1	Lap 2	Lap 3	Lap 4	Lap 5	Lap 6	Lap 7	3000m
1	5	Benard KETER	SR	Texas Tech	8:43.49 Q	40.71 [40.71]	1:53.60 [1:12.90]	3:08.97 [1:15.37]	4:17.74 [1:08.78]	5:25.62 [1:07.89]	6:32.99 [1:07.37]	7:39.26 [1:06.28]	8:43.49 [1:04.23]
2	4	MJ ERB	SR	Ole Miss	8:43.54 Q	39.35 [39.35]	1:52.66 [1:13.31]	3:08.27 [1:15.62]	4:17.53 [1:09.26]	5:25.28 [1:07.76]	6:32.90 [1:07.63]	7:38.87 [1:05.97]	8:43.54 [1:04.67]
3	10	Troy REEDER	JR	Furman	8:43.57 Q	39.80 [39.80]	1:52.53 [1:12.74]	3:07.98 [1:15.45]	4:17.20 [1:09.22]	5:24.82 [1:07.62]	6:32.60 [1:07.79]	7:39.03 [1:06.44]	8:43.57 [1:04.55]
4	2	Scott CARPENTER	JR	Georgetown	8:43.61 Q	39.81 [39.81]	1:52.74 [1:12.94]	3:08.22 [1:15.49]	4:17.51 [1:09.29]	5:25.38 [1:07.87]	6:33.15 [1:07.78]	7:39.30 [1:06.15]	8:43.61 [1:04.31]
5	12	Dylan BLANKENBAKER	SR	Oklahoma	8:43.64 Q	39.64 [39.64]	1:52.78 [1:13.14]	3:08.52 [1:15.74]	4:17.74 [1:09.23]	5:28.15 [1:10.41]	6:34.33 [1:06.19]	7:39.82 [1:05.50]	8:43.64 [1:03.82]
6	9	Jamaine COLEMAN	JR	Eastern Kentucky	8:43.85	39.31 [39.31]	1:52.38 [1:13.07]	3:07.92 [1:15.55]	4:17.15 [1:09.23]	5:25.17 [1:08.02]	6:32.65 [1:07.49]	7:39.13 [1:06.49]	8:43.85 [1:04.72]
7	6	Obsa ALI	SO	Minnesota	8:49.00	40.42 [40.42]	1:53.33 [1:12.91]	3:08.16 [1:14.84]	4:18.18 [1:10.02]	5:26.05 [1:07.87]	6:33.86 [1:07.81]	7:42.28 [1:08.42]	8:49.00 [1:06.72]
8	3	Austin O’NEIL	SR	UCLA	8:49.52	39.52 [39.52]	1:52.86 [1:13.34]	3:08.35 [1:15.49]	4:17.95 [1:09.61]	5:25.52 [1:07.57]	6:33.27 [1:07.75]	7:39.55 [1:06.29]	8:49.52 [1:09.97]
9	1	Daniel CARNEY	SO	BYU	8:56.39	39.67 [39.67]	1:53.22 [1:13.55]	3:08.66 [1:15.45]	4:18.08 [1:09.42]	5:26.01 [1:07.93]	6:34.89 [1:08.89]	7:45.54 [1:10.65]	8:56.39 [1:10.85]
10	11	Robert MURPHY	SR	IUPUI	9:10.92	39.09 [39.09]	1:52.42 [1:13.33]	3:08.84 [1:16.42]	4:18.85 [1:10.02]	5:28.30 [1:09.45]	6:41.12 [1:12.82]	7:55.93 [1:14.82]	9:10.92 [1:14.99]
11	7	Dylan LAFOND	SR	Illinois	9:17.29	40.00 [40.00]	1:53.02 [1:13.02]	3:08.08 [1:15.07]	4:18.35 [1:10.27]	5:26.59 [1:08.25]	6:35.52 [1:08.93]	7:53.90 [1:18.38]	9:17.29 [1:23.40]
12	8	Khalil RMIDI KININI	SR	Maryland-Eastern Shore	9:32.44	40.10 [40.10]	1:53.05 [1:12.96]	3:08.70 [1:15.65]	4:18.91 [1:10.21]	5:29.61 [1:10.71]	6:45.36 [1:15.76]	8:05.44 [1:20.08]	9:32.44 [1:27.01]

Heat 2

Pl	Ln	Athlete		Affiliation	Time	Lap 1	Lap 2	Lap 3	Lap 4	Lap 5	Lap 6	Lap 7	3000m
1	7	Edwin KIBICHIY	SR	Louisville	8:41.07 Q	38.72 [38.72]	1:50.11 [1:11.40]	3:00.34 [1:10.23]	4:10.67 [1:10.34]	5:21.44 [1:10.78]	6:31.60 [1:10.16]	7:38.91 [1:07.32]	8:41.07 [1:02.16]
2	1	Darren FAHY	SR	Georgetown	8:41.31 Q	39.33 [39.33]	1:51.07 [1:11.74]	3:01.32 [1:10.26]	4:11.49 [1:10.18]	5:22.01 [1:10.52]	6:32.22 [1:10.22]	7:40.02 [1:07.80]	8:41.31 [1:01.29]
3	4	Emmanuel ROTICH	SO	Tulane	8:42.30 Q	40.08 [40.08]	1:51.22 [1:11.14]	3:01.22 [1:10.00]	4:11.38 [1:10.16]	5:21.84 [1:10.47]	6:32.16 [1:10.33]	7:39.23 [1:07.07]	8:42.30 [1:03.08]
4	6	Noah SCHUTTE	SO	Portland	8:42.85 Q	39.88 [39.88]	1:51.72 [1:11.85]	3:01.59 [1:09.88]	4:11.90 [1:10.31]	5:22.27 [1:10.37]	6:32.89 [1:10.62]	7:40.08 [1:07.20]	8:42.85 [1:02.77]
5	9	Bailey ROTH	SO	Arizona	8:42.92 Q	39.05 [39.05]	1:50.37 [1:11.32]	3:00.51 [1:10.15]	4:10.88 [1:10.38]	5:21.63 [1:10.75]	6:31.67 [1:10.04]	7:39.03 [1:07.37]	8:42.92 [1:03.89]
6	10	Troy FRALEY	JR	Gonzaga	8:43.08 q	38.81 [38.81]	1:50.21 [1:11.40]	3:00.27 [1:10.06]	4:10.71 [1:10.45]	5:21.49 [1:10.78]	6:31.91 [1:10.43]	7:39.69 [1:07.79]	8:43.08 [1:03.40]
7	5	Jacob HESLINGTON	FR	BYU	8:43.23 q	39.30 [39.30]	1:50.81 [1:11.52]	3:01.02 [1:10.21]	4:11.68 [1:10.66]	5:22.38 [1:10.70]	6:32.51 [1:10.14]	7:39.83 [1:07.32]	8:43.23 [1:03.41]
8	11	Willy FINK	SR	Eastern Michigan	8:52.45	38.95 [38.95]	1:50.52 [1:11.58]	3:00.78 [1:10.26]	4:11.15 [1:10.38]	5:22.10 [1:10.96]	6:32.44 [1:10.35]	7:41.33 [1:08.89]	8:52.45 [1:11.12]
9	12	Mitchell BRIGGS	SR	BYU	8:57.24	39.57 [39.57]	1:51.43 [1:11.87]	3:01.65 [1:10.22]	4:11.99 [1:10.34]	5:22.73 [1:10.74]	6:33.60 [1:10.88]	7:45.01 [1:11.41]	8:57.24 [1:12.24]
10	2	Johannes MOTSCHMANN	JR	Iona	9:01.28	39.66 [39.66]	1:51.26 [1:11.60]	3:01.57 [1:10.32]	4:12.30 [1:10.74]	5:23.44 [1:11.14]	6:36.50 [1:13.07]	7:50.44 [1:13.94]	9:01.28 [1:10.85]
11	8	Graham THOMAS	SR	New Mexico	9:01.75	39.00 [39.00]	1:50.87 [1:11.87]	3:01.89 [1:11.03]	4:11.80 [1:09.91]	5:22.53 [1:10.73]	6:35.30 [1:12.78]	7:50.81 [1:15.52]	9:01.75 [1:10.94]
12	3	Aidan TOOKER	FR	Syracuse	9:02.33	39.07 [39.07]	1:50.61 [1:11.54]	3:00.84 [1:10.24]	4:11.32 [1:10.48]	5:22.77 [1:11.46]	6:34.37 [1:11.60]	7:48.09 [1:13.73]	9:02.33 [1:14.25]

Quick Take: Louisville’s Edwin Kibichiy thinks he can run in the low-8:20s

Kibichiy qualified for his fourth career NCAA final today, an impressive feat on its own, and so far he’s improved every year, taking 11th as a freshman, 9th as a sophomore and 3rd for a senior. Obviously Kibichiy would like to improve again as a senior, which could mean going out with an NCAA title.

Kibichiy, who ran 8:32 at regionals, the fastest time in the country this year, said his coach told him to control the pace today and that’s exactly what he did, cruising into the final with his 8:41, the fastest time of the day.

Kibichiy said he felt good when he had to drop it down on the last lap (62.16) but he still had a lot left. And though he didn’t say whether he’d try to go wire-to-wire again in Friday’s final, he believes he’s capable of something in the low-8:20s. At regionals, he hit the bell in 7:23 before shutting it down.

“My fitness is there,” Kibichiy said. “I can run anything between 8:20 and 8:25.”

Quick Take: Despite falling at NCAAs — for the third time in his career — Oklahoma’s Dylan Blankenbaker is on to the final

Blankenbaker fell during the fifth lap, but he picked himself up and ran his way into the final, grabbing the fifth and final auto spot by .21 of a second. It was an impressive run, but for Blankenbaker, unfortunately, it was familiar territory. Last year, he was caught up in a fall and finished last in his prelim (his coach protested successfully and Blankenbaker finished 4th in the final) and he also fell at NCAA XC last fall.

Blankenbaker is one of several men in the field with a PR in the low 8:30s (he ran 8:34 in the NCAA final last year) and said he’s thought about winning the title, though he knows there are several guys returning from last year’s race that will be thinking the same thing. If he can stay on his feet, he’s certainly got a chance.

Men’s Long Jump: Florida Goes 1-2

The men’s long jump was a tremendous competition. Texas Tech’s Will Williams took the lead with a 7.96m jump in round 2 and from there it was an all-Florida show.

Florida freshman phenom Grant Holloway had disappointed indoors in the long jump (12th place) and fouled on his first two attempts here. Would he disappoint again?

Not at all. He unleashed an 8.00m jump to take the lead in round 3. His teammate KeAndre Bates, the indoor champ, jumped a big 7.98 in round 5, but it was not enough to get the lead. Bates did even better in round 6 with 8.05m and that was enough to get the win as Holloway could not improve in round 6.

Bates was pleased to lead the Florida sweep saying, “I’m happy that me and Grant got to do it finally. I was a part of it. Because I’ve been waiting for it. I’m glad I came through for the team.”

Holloway, who won the 60m hurdles indoors and ran a leg on the 4×400 as well may soon be a superstar in the sport with his versatility. But today he was the NCAA runner-up in the long jump (although he did set a PR in the 110m hurdle prelims).

He was full of praise for his teammate saying, “It’s not how you start, it’s how you finish. KeAndre came out with a wonderful jump on his last one.” Holloway then praised his coaches as well.

When asked if losing to a teammate was much different than losing to a non-teammate he said, “No it’s the same feeling. A loss is a loss” although he did later add, “It’s a little bit special. It (losing to a teammate) is not heavy on your body because it’s your teammate, but a loss is a loss.”

Holloway was full of praise for coach Mike Holloway, and he revealed that the two are related, saying both of them have great-grandparents from Albany, Georgia.

For Coach Holloway, better than hearing praise from Grant might have been Grant saying that he intends to stay at Florida all four years. Grant said, “just to have my cousin coach me, have any family member coach me is an awesome experience. I know I’m the right hands with Coach Holloway for the next four years I’m here. And yes that’s for the NEXT four years that I’m here.”

Although Florida went 1-2 in the long jump, A&M got 3rd and the team battle is still expected to be tight between them.

Place	Athlete		Affiliation	Best Mark		Flight (Pl)
1	KeAndre BATES	JR	Florida	8.05m (26-5 )	-1.1	2 (3)
2	Grant HOLLOWAY	FR	Florida	8.00m (26-3 )	-0.5	2 (1)
3	Will WILLIAMS	JR	Texas A&M	7.96m (26-1½ )	+0.3	2 (2)
4	Terrell MCCLAIN	JR	Akron	7.80m (25-7¼ )	+2.2	2 (7)
5	Chris MCBRIDE	SO	Clemson	7.71m (25-3½ )	+0.2	2 (4)
6	Eric SLOAN	JR	USC	7.65m (25-1¼ )	+0.9	2 (5)
7	Carlos BECKER	FR	Florida State	7.63m (25-½ )	+0.7	1 (1)
8	Andreas TRAJKOVSKI	SR	Arkansas	7.62m (25-0 )	+0.4	2 (6)
9	Jacob FINCHAM-DUKES	SO	Oklahoma State	7.61m (24-11¾ )	+0.1	2 (8)
10	O’Brien WASOME	FR	Texas	7.58m (24-10½ )	+1.5	1 (2)

Men’s shot put: Virginia’s Filip Mihaljevic repeats

Mihaljevic, who earned the bronze at World Indoors last year, earned his second straight NCAA title, defeating Colorado State’s Mostafa Hassan. Mihaljevic’s best throw was his last (21.30m/69-10.75) but his second-round toss of 21.08 would have won it as well.

Place ▾	Athlete	Order	Best	Rnd 1	Rnd 2	Rnd 3	Rnd 4	Rnd 5	Rnd 6
1	Filip MIHALJEVIC Virginia [SR] Flight: 2	F2-02	21.30m 69-10¾	20.50 67-3¼	X	21.08 69-2	X	X	21.30 69-10¾
2	Mostafa HASSAN Colorado St. [JR] Flight: 2	F2-06	20.38m 66-10½	20.23 66-4½	19.21 63-¼	X	X	19.54 64-1¼	20.38 66-10½
3	Nicholas DEMALINE Ohio State [JR] Flight: 2	F2-04	20.08m 65-10½	X	19.21 63-¼	20.08 65-10½	X	X	X
4	Oghenakpobo EFEKORO Virginia [SO] Flight: 1	F1-05	19.70m 64-7¾	18.14 59-6¼	X	19.40 63-7¾	19.70 64-7¾	19.41 63-8¼	18.95 62-2¼
5	Denzel COMENENTIA Georgia [SO] Flight: 2	F2-11	19.63m 64-5	19.58 64-3	19.39 63-7½	19.63 64-5	19.43 63-9	19.52 64-½	19.50 63-11¾
6	Nicholas PONZIO USC [JR] Flight: 2	F2-05	19.53m 64-1	18.88 61-11½	19.53 64-1	19.03 62-5¼	18.73 61-5½	X	19.21 63-¼
7	Peter SIMON California [JR] Flight: 2	F2-10	19.49m 63-11½	X	19.49 63-11½	19.10 62-8	19.05 62-6	18.68 61-3½	19.23 63-1¼
8	Alex RENNER N. Dakota St. [SR] Flight: 2	F2-07	19.26m 63-2¼	18.98 62-3¼	18.94 62-1¾	19.26 63-2¼	19.22 63-¾	19.25 63-2	19.21 63-¼
9	Willie MORRISON Indiana [SO] Flight: 2	F2-08	18.97m 62-3	18.54 60-10	18.97 62-3	18.61 61-¾	X	18.65 61-2¼	18.34 60-2
10	Lucas WARNING Lehigh [SR] Flight: 1	F1-06	18.94m 62-1¾	18.79 61-7¾	18.94 62-1¾	18.77 61-7
11	Jon YOHMAN Penn State [JR] Flight: 2	F2-12	18.91m 62-½	18.91 62-½	X	18.62 61-1¼
12	Austin DROOGSMA Florida State [JR] Flight: 2	F2-01	18.89m 61-11¾	18.44 60-6	18.70 61-4¼	18.89 61-11¾
13	Nikolas HUFFMAN Kentucky [JR] Flight: 1	F1-10	18.81m 61-8½	18.81 61-8½	X	X
14	Riley BUDDE Wisconsin [JR] Flight: 1	F1-07	18.73m 61-5½	18.73 61-5½	X	X
15	Aaron CASTLE Arizona [SR] Flight: 1	F1-03	18.67m 61-3	18.22 59-9½	18.67 61-3	18.33 60-1¾
16	Matthew KATNIK USC [SO] Flight: 2	F2-09	18.63m 61-1½	18.63 61-1½	X	X
17	Nicolai CEBAN Kansas [JR] Flight: 2	F2-03	18.60m 61-¼	X	X	18.60 61-¼
18	Brett NEELLY Kansas State [SO] Flight: 1	F1-04	18.58m 60-11½	18.58 60-11½	18.52 60-9¼	18.58 60-11½
19	Josh AWOTUNDE South Carolina [JR] Flight: 1	F1-11	18.52m 60-9¼	17.86 58-7¼	17.96 58-11¼	18.52 60-9¼
20	Zachary STETLER BYU [SR] Flight: 1	F1-08	18.49m 60-8	18.12 59-5½	18.49 60-8	X
21	T’Mond JOHNSON Texas State [SO] Flight: 1	F1-09	18.31m 60-1	18.06 59-3	18.31 60-1	18.00 59-¾
22	Grant CARTWRIGHT Michigan [JR] Flight: 1	F1-12	18.21m 59-9	18.08 59-4	18.21 59-9	X
23	Andrew LISKOWITZ Michigan [FR] Flight: 1	F1-01	17.57m 57-7¾	X	17.57 57-7¾	X
24	Josh MCDONALD Wisconsin [JR] Flight: 1	F1-02	17.09m 56-1	16.62 54-6½	17.09 56-1	16.65 54-7½

Men’s javelin: Texas A&M’s Ioannis Kyriazis earns 10 big points

Kyriazis has dominated the NCAA all season long and he capped his season with an NCAA meet record, throwing 82.58 meters (270-11) in the second round. That was easily enough to win the meet as Kyriazis’s best toss was almost 20 feet further than runner-up Nicolas Quijera.

Place ▾	Athlete	Order	Best	Rnd 1	Rnd 2	Rnd 3	Rnd 4	Rnd 5	Rnd 6
1	Ioannis KYRIAZIS Texas A&M [JR] Flight: 2	F2-11	82.58m 270-11	71.61 234-11	82.58 270-11	79.59 261-1	75.74 248-6	X	X
2	Nicolas QUIJERA Miss State [JR] Flight: 2	F2-12	76.77m 251-10	71.16 233-5	73.88 242-5	76.77 251-10	73.44 240-11	70.66 231-10	75.85 248-10
3	Michael SHUEY Penn State [SR] Flight: 2	F2-04	76.42m 250-9	70.47 231-2	73.13 239-11	68.43 224-6	76.42 250-9	69.45 227-10	70.77 232-2
4	Alex PASCAL Missouri [JR] Flight: 2	F2-03	75.38m 247-4	68.32 224-2	72.88 239-1	75.38 247-4	X	66.45 218-0	69.59 228-3
5	Matti MORTIMORE N. Dakota St. [JR] Flight: 2	F2-08	74.33m 243-10	67.97 223-0	70.79 232-3	74.20 243-5	71.79 235-6	74.33 243-10	70.73 232-0
6	Sindri GUDMUNDSSON Utah State [FR] Flight: 2	F2-01	73.28m 240-5	70.74 232-1	73.28 240-5	73.26 240-4	71.00 232-11	X	62.02 203-6
7	Curtis THOMPSON Miss State [JR] Flight: 2	F2-09	72.47m 237-9	64.37 211-2	72.47 237-9	71.43 234-4	70.16 230-2	72.34 237-4	70.95 232-9
8	Chris MIRABELLI Rutgers [JR] Flight: 2	F2-10	71.68m 235-2	70.07 229-10	71.68 235-2	X	68.39 224-4	70.57 231-6	X
9	Ryan KERR Penn State [SR] Flight: 1	F1-01	70.71m 232-0	64.35 211-1	69.48 227-11	70.71 232-0	X	X	X
10	McLean LIPSCHUTZ Alabama [SR] Flight: 1	F1-08	69.41m 227-8	69.03 226-5	X	69.41 227-8
11	Sam HARDIN Texas A&M [JR] Flight: 2	F2-07	69.34m 227-6	69.34 227-6	X	67.36 221-0
12	Cody DANIELSON Oregon [SR] Flight: 1	F1-05	69.31m 227-4	69.31 227-4	X	64.57 211-10
13	Michael CRITICOS Memphis [JR] Flight: 2	F2-02	69.18m 227-0	67.85 222-7	69.18 227-0	66.73 218-11
14	Adrian MITCHELL Albany [FR] Flight: 1	F1-02	68.54m 224-10	65.73 215-7	67.63 221-10	68.54 224-10
15	Matthew KUSKEY UC Santa Barbara [SR] Flight: 1	F1-04	68.25m 223-11	X	X	68.25 223-11
16	Simon LITZELL UCLA [FR] Flight: 1	F1-09	67.62m 221-10	X	64.82 212-8	67.62 221-10
17	Werner BOUWER Texas Tech [FR] Flight: 1	F1-07	67.60m 221-9	64.59 211-11	67.14 220-3	67.60 221-9
18	Michael BIDDLE Penn State [FR] Flight: 2	F2-06	66.95m 219-8	66.95 219-8	X	X
19	Reinhard VAN ZYL Missouri [SR] Flight: 2	F2-05	66.86m 219-4	64.16 210-6	66.86 219-4	66.69 218-9
20	Emron GIBBS Southern Miss. [SR] Flight: 1	F1-06	66.76m 219-0	66.76 219-0	65.61 215-3	65.58 215-2
21	Seth DERR Nebraska [SR] Flight: 1	F1-10	66.05m 216-8	66.05 216-8	X	65.37 214-5
22	Ethan SHALAWAY Kentucky [JR] Flight: 1	F1-11	65.02m 213-4	65.02 213-4	X	63.63 208-9
23	Marian SPANNOWSKY UCLA [FR] Flight: 1	F1-12	64.90m 212-11	61.99 203-4	64.90 212-11	X
24	Tucker RIZZI William and Mary [JR] Flight: 1	F1-03	60.91m 199-10	X	60.91 199-10	60.49 198-5

Men’s pole vault: Akron sophomore Matthew Ludwig takes down indoor champ Chris Nilsen

Ludwig was faced with a do-or-die final attempt at 5.60 meters: make it and he was NCAA champion, miss it and he would finish second to Cincinnati’s Adrian Valles. Ludwig made it, clearing the bar and becoming Akron’s second NCAA pole vault champ in three years (Shawn Barber won in 2015, clearing the same height before winning Worlds later that summer).

▾				5.15m	5.30m	5.45m	5.55m	5.60m	5.75m
Place	Pos	Athlete	Best	16-10¾	17-4½	17-10½	18-2½	18-4½	18-10¼
1	19	Matthew LUDWIG Akron [SO]	5.60m 18-4½	———	O	XO	O	XXO	XXR
2	16	Adrian VALLES Cincinnati [JR]	5.55m 18-2½	———	XO	O	O	XXX
3	15	Chris NILSEN South Dakota [FR]	5.45m 17-10½	———	O	O	XXX
3	7	Hussain ALHIZAM Kansas [SO]	5.45m 17-10½	———	O	O	XXX
5	6	Cole WALSH Oregon [JR]	5.45m 17-10½	O	XO	O	XXX
5	2	Jacob WOOTEN Texas A&M [SO]	5.45m 17-10½	XO	O	O	XXX
7	24	Audie WYATT Texas A&M [JR]	5.45m 17-10½	O	XO	XO	XXX
8	4	Sean COLLINS South Alabama [SO]	5.45m 17-10½	XXO	O	XO	XXX
9	20	Nate RICHARTZ Notre Dame [JR]	5.45m 17-10½	XO	XO	XXO	XXX
10	8	Devin KING SE Louisiana [JR]	5.30m 17-4½	———	O	XXX
11	14	Barrett POTH Texas [JR]	5.30m 17-4½	XO	O	XXX
12	12	Will HERRSCHER Alabama [SO]	5.30m 17-4½	———	XO	XXX
12	9	Jake ALBRIGHT Kansas [SR]	5.30m 17-4½	———	XO	XXX
14	13	Noah GARY Michigan State [JR]	5.30m 17-4½	XO	XO	XXX
15	21	Sean CLARKE Penn [FR]	5.30m 17-4½	O	XXO	XXX
16	5	Garrett STARKEY Arizona State [SR]	5.15m 16-10¾	O	XXX
16	10	Brad JOHNSON Virginia Tech [SR]	5.15m 16-10¾	O	XXX
18	22	Everette FAVOR Oklahoma [SR]	5.15m 16-10¾	XO	XXX
18	17	Carl JOHANSSON Texas A&M [JR]	5.15m 16-10¾	XO	XXX
20	11	Connor HALL Duke [SR]	5.15m 16-10¾	XXO	XXX
20	18	Rashid COULIBALY Wisconsin [FR]	5.15m 16-10¾	XXO	XXX
NH	1	Armand WOODLEY South Carolina [SO]	NH	XXX
NH	23	August KILES Princeton [JR]	NH	XXX
NH	3	Antonio RUIZ Stephen F. Austin [SO]	NH	———	XXX

Men’s hammer: Cornell’s Rudy Winkler becomes first Ivy Leaguer to win hammer since 1962

Winkler, an Olympian and the 2016 U.S. champion, moved up one spot from his runner-up finish in 2016 to claim the title with a winning toss of 74.12 meters (243-2) during the third round.

Place ▾	Athlete	Order	Best	Rnd 1	Rnd 2	Rnd 3	Rnd 4	Rnd 5	Rnd 6
1	Rudy WINKLER Cornell [SR] Flight: 2	F2-12	74.12m 243-2	69.98 229-7	69.72 228-9	74.12 243-2	X	72.72 238-7	73.30 240-6
2	Alexander YOUNG SE Louisiana [SR] Flight: 2	F2-06	73.66m 241-8	X	65.78 215-10	70.65 231-9	71.51 234-7	70.52 231-4	73.66 241-8
3	Gleb DUDAREV Kansas [FR] Flight: 2	F2-01	73.44m 240-11	70.15 230-2	68.88 226-0	71.37 234-2	71.50 234-7	71.68 235-2	73.44 240-11
4	Hilmar ORN JONSSON Virginia [SO] Flight: 2	F2-04	72.38m 237-5	70.10 230-0	71.86 235-9	X	X	X	72.38 237-5
5	Denzel COMENENTIA Georgia [SO] Flight: 2	F2-11	71.75m 235-4	X	71.75 235-4	X	X	X	70.00 229-8
6	Johnnie JACKSON LSU [SR] Flight: 2	F2-02	71.72m 235-4	68.77 225-7	69.81 229-0	71.72 235-4	X	70.28 230-7	X
7	Alex POURSANIDIS Georgia [SR] Flight: 2	F2-09	71.44m 234-4	68.46 224-7	70.54 231-5	71.44 234-4	69.71 228-8	70.42 231-0	69.11 226-9
8	Joseph ELLIS Michigan [SO] Flight: 1	F1-06	70.33m 230-9	69.08 226-8	X	70.33 230-9	70.15 230-2	X	68.37 224-3
9	Jordan YOUNG Virginia [SR] Flight: 1	F1-10	69.71m 228-8	66.01 216-7	X	69.44 227-10	66.95 219-8	68.87 225-11	69.71 228-8
10	Dempsey MCGUIGAN Ole Miss [SR] Flight: 1	F1-11	69.14m 226-10	67.40 221-1	X	69.14 226-10
11	Adam KEENAN Northern Arizona [SR] Flight: 2	F2-07	68.98m 226-4	67.33 220-10	64.20 210-7	68.98 226-4
12	Cameron BROWN Tennessee [SR] Flight: 1	F1-12	68.55m 224-11	66.87 219-4	68.55 224-11	65.98 216-6
13	Joshua HERNANDEZ Sam Houston St. [FR] Flight: 2	F2-08	66.95m 219-8	66.95 219-8	X	65.37 214-5
14	Brock EAGER Washington St. [SO] Flight: 2	F2-03	66.16m 217-1	X	66.16 217-1	65.99 216-6
15	Seth WHITENER Tennessee [SO] Flight: 1	F1-08	66.14m 217-0	X	66.14 217-0	65.44 214-8
16	Cristian RAVAR LADISLAU Arkansas State [JR] Flight: 2	F2-05	65.33m 214-4	X	65.33 214-4	64.08 210-3
17	Trevor TROUTMAN Louisville [SR] Flight: 1	F1-09	65.09m 213-6	65.09 213-6	X	62.45 204-10
18	Austin RIDDLE Rice [JR] Flight: 2	F2-10	64.94m 213-1	64.41 211-4	64.47 211-6	64.94 213-1
19	Riley BUDDE Wisconsin [JR] Flight: 1	F1-04	63.15m 207-2	X	59.99 196-10	63.15 207-2
20	Mitch DIXON Kansas State [JR] Flight: 1	F1-01	62.91m 206-4	62.04 203-6	62.91 206-4	62.23 204-2
21	Brady GRUNDER Kansas State [SR] Flight: 1	F1-05	62.71m 205-9	X	62.71 205-9	X
22	Kyle SMITH Kansas State [SR] Flight: 1	F1-07	61.54m 201-11	60.82 199-6	58.89 193-2	61.54 201-11
23	Austin COOK Texas A&M [JR] Flight: 1	F1-03	60.00m 196-10	X	60.00 196-10	59.36 194-9
24	Cullen PRENA Oregon [JR] Flight: 1	F1-02	59.75m 196-0	X	59.75 196-0	X