© Copyright – 2016 – Athletics Illustrated
Syracuse University’s Justyn Knight competed in the 2016 NCAA Division 1 Indoor Track and Field Championships Saturday in Birmingham, AL in the 3,000-metre event and finished in third place.
Knight, who was one of the favourites going in, finished in the time of 8:01.85 in a close race to the line behind Oregon’s Edward Cheserek, who finished in the time of 8:00.40 and Stanford’s Sean McGorty. McGorty crossed the line in the time of 8:01.55, taking out Knight over the final metres.
“The race played out the way I expected it would,” said the Toronto native. “I had a couple of theories of what would happen. I decided to play the race by ear. I knew Ches would be ready to go no matter how many races he took part in over the weekend. When he made his move with 600 to go, I tried to respond, however, he formed too much of a gap. I knew I was now leading the pack. Unfortunately I was just edged out with 50m to go.”
In regards to his upcoming outdoor season, Knight added, “My expectations for outdoors are the same as indoors. The one thing that the group of guys in that race and I share is our competitive edge, we all want to win a title and make our school and country proud. Is it realistic? Will it happen? I’m not sure, but I know if I set high goals I’ll accomplish a lot more on the way.”
“I’m happy with my indoor season and how I finished at NCAA Championship, however, I am not satisfied. I plan to continue to get better and improve as I continue training for the outdoor season.”
Knight has an outdoors personal best time from two years ago of 8:07.95 and has demonstrated good range running the 5,000-metres as fast as 13:34.86 and the 1500-metres in 3:39.66 during 2015. Based on his indoor season it appears that he is set for further improvements.
Top-10 – 3,000-metres:
| 1 | Edward Cheserek | JR | Oregon | 8:00.40 | ||||
| 2 | Sean McGorty | SO | Stanford | 8:01.55 | ||||
| 3 | Justyn Knight | FR | Syracuse | 8:01.85 | ||||
| 4 | Izaic Yorks | SR | Washington | 8:02.24 | ||||
| 5 | Pierce Murphy | SR | Colorado | 8:02.40 | ||||
| 6 | Jefferson Abbey | JR | Colorado St. | 8:02.43 (8:02.422) | ||||
| 7 | Luis Vargas | SR | NC State | 8:02.43 (8:02.426) | ||||
| 8 | Colby Gilbert | SO | Washington | 8:02.83 | ||||
| 9 | Patrick Corona | SR | Air Force | 8:03.12 | ||||
| 10 | Connor Winter | SR | Colorado | 8:04.23 | ||||
| 11 | Willy Fink | JR | Eastern Michigan | 8:07.81 |
Canadian Entries NCAA D1
Men’s 200
5 227 Brendon Rodney SR LIU Brooklyn 20.46
Men’s 800
4 611 Robert Heppenstall FR Wake Forest 1:47.35
Men’s Mile
1 490 Adam Palamar JR Syracuse 3:58.55
Men’s 3000
10 489 Justyn Knight FR Syracuse 7:48.71
Men’s 4×400
Miss State – 290 Brandon McBride SR
Men’s Distance Medley
Villanova 591 Robert Denault SR
Women’s 800
1 396 Annie Leblanc SR Oregon 2:03.84
Women’s 1 Mile
8 315 Erin Teschuk SR ND State 4:34.00
Women’s 3000
11 315 Erin Teschuk SR ND State 9:04.13
Women’s Pentathlon
Georgia Ellenwood
Women’s 4×400
Arizona 26 Sage Watson JR
Women’s 60m – Shaina Harrison – Syracuse
Women’s 400m – Micha Powell – Maryland
Women’s DMR – Madeline Price – Duke
Women’s 4×400 – Taylor Sharpe – Florida
Women’s Distance Medly
Michigan Jaimie Phelan SO
Oregon Annie Leblanc SR
Women’s Pole Vault
2 259 Alysha Newman JR Miami 4.50m
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