IC4A/ECAC Championships: Splits and comments

IC4A Championships

Friday, May 11, 2012

Princeton University

10,000-meter run

6. Will Griffin 30:15.92 *IC4A All-East

75.6, 2:33.8 (78.2), 3:48.2 (74.4), 5:00.1 (71.9)

6:11.8 (71.7), 7:24.5 (72.7), 8:36.6 (72.1), 9:49.6 (73.0)

11:02.7 (73.1), 12:14.7 (72.0), 13:26.2 (71.5), 14:39.4 (72.2)

15:51.4 (73.0), 17:03.7 (72.3), 18:16.3 (72.6), 19:28.7 (72.4)

20:41.7 (73.0), 21:54.8 (73.1), 23:06.1 (71.3), 24:18.8 (72.7)

25:33.3 (74.5), 26:46.6 (73.3), 27:59.2 (72.6), 29:10.2 (71.0)

30:15.92 (65.72)

1600m splits: 5:00.1, 4:49.5, 4:49.8, 4:49.3, 4:50.1, 4:51.4

Last 1600m: 4:42.62

Coach Pete says: Last year, when Will ran 29:45.81 at Mt. SAC, it was one of the more thrilling races we have watched. Last night ranks right up there. Although the finishing time was a full 30 seconds slower, in some ways Will’s race last night was more impressive.

Here’s why: Looking at the splits, one would think this was simply a slow first mile followed by locking in to plus or minus 4:50 pace. Wrong! This was a tough battle with many surges and moves, whereas the 2011 Mt. SAC race was a smooth ride, albeit at a very fast pace. There were several moments in last night’s race where packs would make surges and moves, and Will answered almost every one of them.

In addition, the toll that student teaching took on Will this semester cannot be understated. Stress and a lack of sleep were Will’s constant companions, especially over the last two months. His running and racing suffered; there is no doubt about that. His confidence also waned, and he would be the first to admit that as well. It is why his ability to muster the mental toughness to race -- and race well -- last night is something we won’t soon forget.

3,000-meter steeplechase

11. Arquimedes DelaCruz 9:09.78

71.2, 2:21.8 (70.6), 3:34.2 (72.4), 4:47.6 (73.4), 6:02.1 (74.5), 7:17.3 (75.2), 8:31.5 (74.2), 9:09.78 (38.28)

Coach Pete says: Quimes was disappointed not to have made the NCAA Regional cut (sub-9:00 range is what it probably will take) and not to have run a personal-best time. But we have much to be proud of with Quimes’ race and his junior year of running. The steeple is a tough event; it is a very tough event. Quimes’ form was a bit choppy over the barriers, but he was able to surge and surge hard between the barriers. He placed third in the “slow” section and wound up being just a few ticks away from a scoring placement. His 11^th place finish is the highest ever by a Marist runner at the IC4A in the steeplechase. Yes, he has worked hard at this event, but sometimes improvement is hard to come by given the specialty nature of the race. Regardless, we look forward to his senior year of competition in all three seasons.

ECAC Championships

Friday, May 11, 2012

Princeton University

10,000-meter run

11. Addie DiFrancesco 36:28.57

88.6, 2:56.7 (88.1), 4:22.8 (86.1), 5:48.1 (85.3)

7:14.5 (86.4), 8:40.8 (86.3), 10:08.1 (87.3), 11:33.8 (85.7)

13:00.4 (86.6), 14:27.0 (86.6), 15:54.3 (87.2), 17:22.3 (88.0)

18:49.5 (87.2), 20:16.9 (87.4), 21:44.5 (87.6), 23:12.4 (87.9)

24:40.8 (88.3), 26:09.3 (88.6), 27:37.9 (88.6), 29:06.5 (88.7)

30:35.6 (89.1), 32:05.0 (89.3), 33:34.1 (89.1), 35:02.8 (88.7)

36:28.57 (85.77)  

Coach Pete says: It has been a long journey to last night’s final collegiate finish line for Addie. Because of injury issues, it has been a rocky one at times. But say this about Addie: When she has been healthy and able, she goes down as one of the greatest distance runners ever to wear the Marist red-and-white. Her running resume is outstanding and we are plenty proud of it. For her to go out with three 10,000-meter races in less than a month – and to improve with each race! – is remarkable. Here’s another remarkable stat: Addie ran seven seconds faster than her time at this meet three years ago – when she placed second overall! Clearly, last night’s race was far more challenging and intense than that very gratifying 2009 race on the same track. She can walk away from that final finish line with her head held high for a job very well done. This is her final college finish line, and we will miss having her around the team in coming years, but we anticipate many more road race finish lines in the future for Addie. Nicely done!

What's next, today: Our 4x800-meter relay team runs later this afternoon, under the bright and hot sunshine here in Princeton.