During the indoor track season, we have what I like to call the “Magic Carpet” at Boston University, where fast times are often run.
During the outdoor track season, it seems our “Magic Carpet” is Princeton University’s Weaver Stadium.
The Friday night meets at Princeton have become legendary, with usually chilly but decent weather for distance races, incredibly deep fields of talented athletes and great performances as a result.
That was the case for us last night.
Arquimedes DelaCruz’ school record in the 3,000 steeplechase was the big highlight. Quimes ran 9:06.60, broke Justin Harris’ excellent school record by 3 seconds and qualified for the IC4A meet. Will this be fast enough to get him into NCAA Regionals? Time, literally, will tell. Q improved his PR by 11 seconds and atoned for an off race for him out at Mt. SAC. Nicely done!
For me, though, the race that I will remember for a long time – as in, forever; as in, I’ll probably be talking about this one when I’m an old, old man, God willing, at Alumni Weekend with the boys – was Zak Smetana’s truly stunning 5,000-meter race. Zak PRed by 25 seconds and broke 15:00 for the first time. He won the fifth and final section of the long night and truly ran the race of his life.
And it could not have happened to a better or more deserving young man. Zak put in a great summer of training in 2010, but had a disappointing fall XC season, for a variety of reasons. Lesser men would have bagged it, but Zak kept plugging away and cashed in on all that hard work – culminating with the magical race last night. Those who were there saw how pumped his teammates and this old coach were afterwards. Everyone was thrilled for Zak!
It was great to see Marist Running Alum Mike Rolek crack the 15-minute barrier for the first time, getting that huge monkey off his back once and for all. Oh yeah, in case you could not tell by the massive amounts of gear he was sporting, our guy is sponsored by Saucony. The dude was a walking, talking and racing Saucony billboard. Nicely done!
There were many other personal- and season-best performances, as you will see below. Thanks to Doug Ainscow for recording each and every split, which will eventually be typed up here.
For now, though, enjoy Easter Weekend and talk to you all soon.
Larry Ellis Invitational
Friday, April 22, 2011
Men’s results
800-meter run
Andrew James 1:56:11 (personal-best time)
1,500-meter run
Ben Windisch 4:00.94 (personal-best time)
Conor Shelley 4:01.86
3,000-meter steeplechase
Arquimedes DelaCruz 9:06.60 *school record, IC4A qualifier
Nick Webster 9:37.79 (season best)
5,000-meter run
Ken Walshak 14:47.07 (season-best time)
Zak Smetana 14:50.39 (personal-best time)
Mike Rolek (Marist Alumni Racing Team) 14:52.92 (personal-best time)
Billy Posch 15:02.13 (personal-best time)
Joel Moss 15:07.87 (personal-best time)
Tom Lipari 15:09.61 (personal-best time)
Pat Duggan 15:17.59 (personal-best time)
Brian Townsend 15:32.15
Ryan Scrudato (McCann Harriers) 16:02.83
Women’s results
1,500-meter run
Jackie Gamboli 4:42.34 (season-best time)
5,000-meter run
Addie DiFrancesco 17:47.78 (season-best time)
Men’s 5km all-time list
Girma Segni, 14:18.42, 2009*
Arquimedes DelaCruz, 14:33.20, 2011
Adam Vess, 14:33.41, 2008
Peter Pazik, 14:35.84, 1986
Matt Flint, 14:37.45, 2010
Ken Walshak, 14:37.53, 2011
Michael Melfi, 14:42.36, 1998
Justin Harris, 14:42.88, 2007
David Raucci, 14:42.92, 2006
Michael Nehr, 14:45.61, 2001
Will Griffin, 14:47.86, 2010
David Swift, 14:50.24, 1995
Zak Smetana, 14:50.39, 2011
Kirk Dornton, 14:50.89, 2002
Nick Webster, 14:52.54, 2009
Conor Shelley, 14:52.67, 2008
Greg Salamone, 14:55.79, 2000
Tim Keegan, 14:56.45, 2009
*holds both indoor (14:18.42) and outdoor (14:32.65) school records for the distance
Bold indicates current team member
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