Notes
Mile Splits-
4:44.71
4:54.14 (9:38.85)
4:40.97 (14:19.82)
31.17 (14:50.99)
Final race representing a school today. Stayed relaxed all day trying not to think about pacing this evening or splits or anything. After the first mile, I didn't know any of the splits, just kept hitting the mile split on my watch so I'd have them later. Warm-up felt fine, weather was near perfect, agilities were smooth, everything about the prep before the race was great. When the gun went off, I went pretty much to the back of the pack. I stayed there and kept checking around me to make sure I wasn't in anyone's way. I also wanted to stay on the rail as much as possible so I wouldn't be running extra distance. Plank and I were together for a good chunk of the race, pretty much the first two miles. I remember shortly after the first mile, I heard one of the only splits: a 72 quarter. I felt really good and I remember turning to Plank and whooping a bit since I felt so good. I hoped he would come with me through the race. At one point he passed me, along with the other 3-4 guys running with us, but when we hit a mile to go, I surged ahead of our pack to catch the next pack. I was feeling great so I started to just chip away at the gap between myself and the Wabash guy ahead of me. I caught him at about 1200 to go I think, then I could see Mitch and the pack he was in were coming back to me as well. I caught the tail end of their pack with 400 left and when I caught I surged hard to get around them. At 400 left I remember seeing 13:50 and I knew I could close hard enough to get sub-15. After passing Mitch's pack, I tried to maintain the kick down the backstretch. At 200 left I split my watch but didn't check the time. Tried to maintain the surge but I was tiring by now. At 100 left I was worried about having to go to the bottom of the well to try and break 15, but I saw the clock read 14:35 just past 100 meters left and then I knew I had it. I just maintained from there to the line, but I was smiling the last stretch because I knew I had it. As I crossed the line I let a little emotion go because I was so pumped. Never thought I would do this in college the way this year has gone, but it happened and now I've got some positive momentum going into the summer. After the race people were hugging me and telling me great job and such. I think that's what I'll remember most, all the teammates congratulating me afterwards. It meant a lot to see guys rushing over after the race. Afterwards, I talked to Ross and Dees a bit and then cooled down with the other 5k guys. Great culmination to my career representing the school I attend. The time wasn't national qualifying, but it felt great to set two consecutive PRs.