Notes
After the mile I started to get a blister and could tell I probably only had one more race before it ripped apart. I decided the shorter option of a 1k would be better than a 3k. I went to the starting line having no idea what to expect with it being a second race and racing a bunch of freshman that I don't know much about. I started in lane 3, it has been a long time since I was part of a staggered/cut-at-the-cone race. I got out well and thought I was running about the right pace and then both of the guys to the inside of me blew past me at the 100m mark. This got me pretty concerned since I didn't feel capable of running the pace they were running. When I saw the clock I felt comfortable with my decision though since the went through in low 29s and I was about a second and a half behind them sitting in fifth. Then the pace settled down and I got comfortable in the pace. One guy fell off a lap later and I went around him before losing the pack. Coming up on 2 to go I moved up to second as the leader (Sisu) was starting to get away. As I crossed the line with 2 to go I was right behind and started to think I could win this for sure. The next lap went by without much happening and when we hit the bell Sisu had a little more fight than I had expected. I think he actually pulled away a little during the first 100 of that lap and I was starting to commit to second. On the last corner I decided to see what I had and was able to start creeping back up as we came off the corner. Things got pretty ugly at this point and I was not gaining by much. We crossed the line about as even as could be and I had no idea who had won. I ended up getting him by .004 in most likely the closest finish I have ever been a part of. I was even more surprised to see I ran a 2:35 since I think my pr prior to this was maybe a 2:42 or a 2:44. Really good races from the freshman in that heat too with a few of them running under 2:40. I might have to run this race in future years since it was so much fun.