10 members of the American University men's and women's track
teams posted personal bests this weekend at the New Balance
Collegiate Invitational in New York City. Junior Colin
Eustis and sophomore Josh
Olsen stole the show for the Eagles though by posting
victories in the 3,000 meter run and 5,000 meter run, respectively.
Eustis posted both a personal best and the fifth fastest time in
American history as he ran to victory in the 3,000. His time of
8:13.28 stands as the top time in the Patriot League this season
and eclipsed the IC4A qualifying standard. Classmate Jeff
Brannigan finished just behind Eustis in second place,
posting the conference's second fastest time and another IC4A
qualifying mark of 8:13.48. Brannigan's time stands as the sixth
fastest ever run by an Eagle. Freshman Mark
Leininger also competed in the event and set a new PR
of 8:41.45.
Olsen earned a victory in the 5,000 with a time of 14:44.84,
setting a new PR and placing him ninth on American's all-time top
10 list. His time ranks him eighth in the Patriot League this
season and also eclipsed the IC4A standard. Sophomore Ryan
Williams took second in the event with a time of
18:48.56, ranking him 10th all-time at American and
ninth in the Patriot League this season.
On the women's side, senior Rachel
Forcino destroyed her previous personal best of
17:57.52 in the 5,000 to place second in 17:30.44. Her time is the
fastest in the conference this season by more than 13 seconds,
eclipsed the IC4A standard and is the third fastest time in
American history. Classmate Greta
Wicklund also competed in the event and posted a time
of 18:54.36.
Junior Conor
Sullivan placed sixth in the mile run with a PR of
4:10.77. He was joined at the starting line by freshman James
Cannon who posted a PR of 4:14.50 and sophomore Craig
Brown who crossed the tape in 4:14.58.
Junior Morgan
Block and senior Dan
King competed in the 800 meter run where Block set a
PR of 1:55.61, the 10th fastest time in school history.
King finished in 1:56.54, less than three-tenths of a second
off his PR.
Senior Erin
Koch was the Eagles' lone competitor in the 1,000
meter run where she set a new PR and the fourth fastest time in
school history of 2:57.76.
The American University men's and women's track teams will
return to action when they begin competition at the 2010 Patriot
League Indoor Track and Field Championships. This year's conference
meet will be held February 19-21 in West Point, N.Y.
