MoMo!
MoMo!
Evan Hatton and John Christmas
Well now there is a question wrote:
Fastnbulbous
You've been around for a little while and are really familiar with the MIAC.
If you had to make an all MIAC team from the 2000's (or maybe 2005 - present) for either cross country or track, who would you put on there? No limit to the number of names you put down. Just want the thoughts of someone who has seen the many faces of the MIAC over the years.
While I have paid attention to MIAC on and off for over a couple decades, I don't think my all-star team would be any surprise, just the most consistent All-Americans.
I will say the most impressive talent is probably Grant Wintheiser. 3rd as a sophomore, 3rd as a junior, then champion. Winning XC nationals is the toughest thing any runner can do, just like the World XC champs used to be the ultimate test back in its heyday when most of the best runners participated. That's why I still follow the sport.
I will say his potential in track was left untapped. I'm not sure if the St. Olaf coach was just fantasizing about sweeping the 1500, or that Grant simply stuck to the shorter distance because of a couple winter/spring injuries and had limited miles in the bank. But I felt he had the potential to break 14:00 in the 5000. It's a tough thing to do, to get the timing right and nail a peak performance in a properly paced race, but still not too close to the championships. In the 10,000, John Crain and Ian LaMere both did it at Stanford in April 2014 & '16 (28:52 & 28:38). LaMere ran 13:56 in May at Keeler.
Speaking of D3 All-Americans, I was watching the Chicago Marathon, which passes a block from my house, and I saw Travis Morrison go by (5th in 10K in 2015 with North Central). I gave him a "D3" shoutout. He ran 2:23:17, and was totally alone the last several miles, as the next runner in front of him was Jordan Hasay in 2:20:57. The next guy ahead of him was Kevin Havel, former Stanford D1 runner in 2:20:18.
Forgot to mention that I did see that Wintheiser ran 1:06:15 at the Duluth Gary Bjorklund Half earlier this year. Ben Sathre was another talented MIAC runner, who was in front of him in 1:06:03 in that race for 10th overall in an elite field. That's 5:02 pace, not bad.
Probably the most impressive D3 post-collegiate distance performance recently was John Crain's 1:03:21 at the Half US Championships in Houston in 2015.
Fastnbulbous wrote:
Forgot to mention that I did see that Wintheiser ran 1:06:15 at the Duluth Gary Bjorklund Half earlier this year. Ben Sathre was another talented MIAC runner, who was in front of him in 1:06:03 in that race for 10th overall in an elite field. That's 5:02 pace, not bad.
Probably the most impressive D3 post-collegiate distance performance recently was John Crain's 1:03:21 at the Half US Championships in Houston in 2015.
Sathre and Wintheiser ran well on a warm day in Duluth. With med school Grant has only raced a handful of times since graduation but has also logged a couple 1:07 half marathons and a 23:55 road 8K.
The most impressive recent post-collegiate performance by a D3 alum is by far Noah Droddy (DePauw 2013) running 1:01:48 at the NYC Half this past March. Noah also ran 2:16 in Chicago. La Mere was 7th in the US 10 Mile Champs in the Twin Cities a few weeks ago in 47:48, only 15 seconds out of the win. It will be interesting to see what he can do at 13.1 and 26.2 miles in the next few years.
A D3 guy, Tim Chichester, finished 11th at Boston in 2012 when it was really hot. Not a super wild time at 2:21, but still, 11th at Boston. He was never even an All-American.
Very impressive. I forgot about Noah Droddy. He was 9th in 2011, when Ben Sathre won in a quick 23:44. I'm sure most people here know this, but his running the 10,000 Olympic Trials with the 'stache and long hair made him a bit of a media sensation, and that half marathon performance earned him an announcement of key competitors at the beginning of the Chicago Marathon next to the other more highly credentialed marathon debutante Chris Derrick.
When he loped past me on Sunday I gave him the horns, cheered him and said, "Slayer!" He may not be a metal fan, or was just getting through the pain of those last couple miles.
Fastnbulbous wrote:
Probably the most impressive D3 post-collegiate distance performance recently was John Crain's 1:03:21 at the Half US Championships in Houston in 2015.
Since we're talking MIAC here, it would be best not to forget Malcolm Richards was only 5 seconds behind Crain in that race and has a couple 2:15.xx under his belt.
Chris Erichson was also a monster on the roads...
Chris Erichson had range
Post collegiality:
4:12 Mile
8:25 3k
14:36 5k
23:57 8k
30:31 10k
48:59 10 mile
1:04 Half
2:16 Full and a 2:17 at the 2012 trials
theOTHERwhitemeat wrote:
Fastnbulbous wrote:Probably the most impressive D3 post-collegiate distance performance recently was John Crain's 1:03:21 at the Half US Championships in Houston in 2015.
Since we're talking MIAC here, it would be best not to forget Malcolm Richards was only 5 seconds behind Crain in that race and has a couple 2:15.xx under his belt.
Chris Erichson was also a monster on the roads...
Fastnbulbous & theOTHERwhitemeat
Best post collegiate MIAC athletes and their best races after college, then?
We see Malcolm Richards (what school did he go to? I wasn't aware of him), Grant Wintheiser's half at Bjorkland, Chris Erichson's 2:15 marathon, etc.
Would love to see your lists. Many current MIAC runners aren't aware of just how much talent has passed through this conference since we are so caught up in the 'now.'
Malcolm Richards was from St. Olaf. He was 15th at XC nationals in 2004.
I'm sure there were plenty of other MIAC runners who had post-collegiate accomplishments, but I certainly don't have a comprehensive knowledge.
Only because she's a friend, I know that Jennifer Tonkin, who was 5th at nationals in the 10,000 in 1993 (37:12, Macalester) developed into a good marathon runner. She was runner-up in the 1999 USA Marathon Championship, was 12th in the 2000 Chicago marathon in 2:38:30, and 10th in the 2000 Olympic Trials, finishing just behind Joan Benoit-Samuelson. She was selected for the World Championships team in 2001, but was DNF due to injury.
It looks like Richards has been quite consistent at the Half Marathon Championships. He moved up to 13th in 2016 and 11th this year.
Bailey Drewes from St. Benedict's.
Was rather average during him time in the MIAC, never placing higher than 7th on the track and 12th on the grass from what I can tell.
2:41:20 at Grandma's marathon this past spring. Has won a few mid-major marathons and halfs in Phoenix and New York.
Trust the process people. You can keep improving after college!
How many MIAC alums have qualified for the Olympic Trials?
Chris Erichsen, St John's - 2012
Matt Hooley, Carleton - 2008, 2012
Malcolm Richards, St Olaf - 2012, 2016
Ben Sathre, St Thomas - 2016
Jenna Boren, St Olaf - 2008, 2012
Emma Lee, St Olaf - 2016
jtrb23 wrote:
How many MIAC alums have qualified for the Olympic Trials?
Chris Erichsen, St John's - 2012
Matt Hooley, Carleton - 2008, 2012
Malcolm Richards, St Olaf - 2012, 2016
Ben Sathre, St Thomas - 2016
Jenna Boren, St Olaf - 2008, 2012
Emma Lee, St Olaf - 2016
That is a really impressive list...
Were these all on the roads for the marathon? Have we had anyone on the track?
Olympic MIAC wrote:
jtrb23 wrote:How many MIAC alums have qualified for the Olympic Trials?
Chris Erichsen, St John's - 2012
Matt Hooley, Carleton - 2008, 2012
Malcolm Richards, St Olaf - 2012, 2016
Ben Sathre, St Thomas - 2016
Jenna Boren, St Olaf - 2008, 2012
Emma Lee, St Olaf - 2016
That is a really impressive list...
Were these all on the roads for the marathon? Have we had anyone on the track?
Yes the ones I listed were all for the marathon. Wasn't meant to be a comprehensive list; those are just the ones I know without researching. I'm not aware of any track Olympic Trials qualifiers, though Devin Monson ran the 10K at US Nationals in 2014.
If you look at the entire history of the MIAC, there are likely another couple dozen. I already mentioned Jennifer Tonkin. Another runner from Macalester, Paul Mausling, who still holds most of the school's distance records (including a 24:05 8K in XC) ran the 1984 Olympic Trials. He didn't have a great race, was 2:28. He was, however, just 8 seconds behind 2:10 runner Garry Bjorklund (who became a legend when he beat Bill Rodgers in the 1976 10K trials wearing only one shoe(!), and was a finalist in the Olympics). That was the race that Pete Pfitzinger upset Alberto Salazar. Mausling's best time was a 2:15:37 in 1983.
Another Mac runner, Linda Zeman, also ran the 1984 Olympic Trials, and ran a 2:34:52 in 1988.
Teammate Julia Kirtland was 14th in the 1996 OT in 2:37:53, was the U.S. Marathon champion in 1997 in a stunning 2:27:46 (the best time ever by an MIAC alum?), and was 23rd in the 2000 OT behind Tonkin.
Despite the training it takes, the marathon seems to be slightly easier to qualify for since it can accommodate a larger field.
In track, the auto standards are out of reach for most D3 athletes. Currently they are:
800 - 1:46
1500 - 3:38
5000 - 13:28
10,000 - 28:15
Nowadays, there's usually more than enough fromer D1 and pro athletes more than capable of filling those auto spots. Years back though, it did seem to be at least something to dream about for some athletes. A guy on the cusp of 30 in the 10K could conceivably have a chance of sneaking in.
In 1992, the top D3 performer of my era, Haverford College's Seamus McElligott was one of those who made it. Seamus wasn't just any D3 athlete, of course. Just two days after winning the D3 championship in 30:14, he was invited to participate in the DI champs, and snagged the last All-American spot in 30:13. He ran a 29:14.34 at the 1991 Penn Relays (still 5th all time best in D3), and then 28:26 in Philadelphia in April 1992, securing an auto spot. He ended up DNF in the trials, unfortunately, and died too young in 1998.
jtrb23 wrote:
Yes the ones I listed were all for the marathon. Wasn't meant to be a comprehensive list; those are just the ones I know without researching. I'm not aware of any track Olympic Trials qualifiers, though Devin Monson ran the 10K at US Nationals in 2014.
Devin Monson certainly had potential the make the 2016 trials had he kept at it, but he fell off the map after his 29:00 PR in Portland in 2014, and a slightly disappointing result at the championships that year.
Jake Campbell and Hart Horner probably had potential to be qualifiers if they improved, but neither seem to be running seriously.
Current MIAC 10,000 record holder Joe Broze also ran the 1984 trials, 10 spots behind Mausling for 80th in 2:29.59.
He had run 2:18.45 early that year (PR) along with a 1:08.xx two years prior.