The University of Washington's last chance meet Saturday, March 6, bled some big efforts just two weeks shy of the Div. 1 NCAA Indoor Championships.
Trevor Dunbar, a University of Portland freshman running unattached this indoor season (he is training for the World Junior Cross Country Championships March 27 in Bydgoszcz, Poland) ran 8:01.76 to win the second section of the men's 3,000. Pilot Matt Ferker was fifth in 8:19. 79. Dunbar set a 10 second PR at the UW Preview in January, winning in 8:04.96.
In section two of the women's 800, Portland's Cori Moore finished third (2:05.41) behind Sacramento State's Lea Wallace (2:04.73) and Renisha Robinson (2:05.38). Oregon's Zoe Buckman was fourth (2:05.72). Right now, Moore's provisional qualifier sits 14th on the NCAA start list, and Buckman's on the bubble, according to Lev Rourke.
Robinson and Buckman also ran provisional qualifying times. Moore's high school coach from Everett High in Washington, Bruce Overstreet, said that her performance represented at least a 3-second PR. She graduated from high school 4 years ago, has had one redshirt season. He said she never won a state title because over the years in Washington she was running against Rebekah Noble, Brie Felnagle and Jessica Pixler, all of whom went on to win NCAA championships.
Oregon's AJ Acosta finished second in section 2 of the men's mile (3:58.08) behind Ben Blankenship (3:57.87) of Minnesota. Both were auto qualifiers. Galen Rupp, running for NIKE, was third in 3:58.79.
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At the Columbia Last Chance Meet at the Armory Track & Field Center in NYC:
Columbia University sophomore Kyle Merber ran the second sub-four minute mile in Ivy League history, winning the men's mile in 3:58.52, a four second PR and a new Ivy League record. The automatic qualifying time puts Merber #9 on the NCAA indoor list for collegians. His parents are booking tickets to Fayetteville. Princeton frosh Nathan Mathabane from Lincoln High School in Portland, Oregon was 4th in section three in 4:07.72. Full results here.
Columbia University sophomore Kyle Merber ran the second sub-four minute mile in Ivy League history, winning the men's mile in 3:58.52, a four second PR and a new Ivy League record. The automatic qualifying time puts Merber #9 on the NCAA indoor list for collegians. His parents are booking tickets to Fayetteville. Princeton frosh Nathan Mathabane from Lincoln High School in Portland, Oregon was 4th in section three in 4:07.72. Full results here.