FAIRFAX, Va. – The American University track team took 10 members on the short trip to George Mason to compete in the IC4A/ECAC Championships this Saturday and Sunday. On Sunday, two school records were broken, first in the men's 200m dash and then in the men's 4x800m relay.
HIGHLIGHTS
- First year sprinter Fernando Ibarra has spent his entire outdoor season progressively getting closer and closer to the top spot in the AU record books in the men's 200m dash. He's had five stops in the record book until Sunday afternoon when he topped the list with his 21.55 second finish in the event. The previous record was held by Andrew Bell and set back in 1968.
- Capping the event for American on Sunday was the men's 4x800m relay. Seniors Nathan Reeves and Tucker Zullo, along with junior Ethan Puc, and first year Kaden Kluth finished fourth overall and recorded a time over two seconds faster than the previous school record when the group finished in 7:25.46. The foursome broke a record set in 2007.
- Other highlights of the Championships include Sophomore Danny O'Neill jumping up from his eighth-place spot in the American record books up to fifth in the 3000m steeplechase event. O'Neill crossed the finish line with a time of 9:29.44, besting his own previous time by six seconds.
- Kluth further solidified himself in the 800m event in the AU books. The first year's personal best (PR) of 1:50.37 has him at fourth on the top-10 all-time performers list.
QUOTES FROM COACH GRAHAM
"We closed off the season this year in a great way; 10 athletes qualifying for the IC4A/ECAC Championships covering the 100m, 200m, 800m, 1500m, 3000m, 3000m steeplechase, 5000m, and the 4x800m relay. That is a trend I'm ecstatic to see growing.
"The highlights came from a phenomenal day two. First from freshman
Fernando Ibarra with a huge PR and new school record of 21.55 in the 200m, eclipsing the old mark from Andrew Bell in 1968!
"This was followed up just thereafter with the men's 4x800m relay setting a new school record of 7:25.46 and besting the old mark with some very impressive alums from 2007.
"It was just a great way to close out the season. I'm so proud of this team. We will take a little break now and then be back at it this fall on the cross country course."
KEEP UP WITH US
For the latest on American University Cross Country, stay tuned to AUEagles.com and follow the team on Twitter (
@AU_TrackXC) and Instagram (
@AU_TrackXC).
RESULTS
| SATURDAY, MAY 13 |
| EVENT |
ENTRIES |
| 100m, Men (qualifying) |
1. Fernando Ibarra, 11.04 |
| 1500m, Men |
31. Oscar Counsell, 3:56.96 | 37. Carver Morgan, 4:01.09 |
| 800m, Men |
5. Kaden Kluth, 1:50.37* (PR) | 19. Ethan Puc, 1:53.03 |
| 3000m, Women |
11. Skyler Tatum, 10:49.14 |
| 3000m Steeplechase, Men |
17. Danny O'Neill, 9:29.44* (PR) |
| SUNDAY, MAY 14 |
| EVENT |
ENTRIES |
| 200m, Men |
10. Fernando Ibarra, 21.55** (PR) |
| 4x800m relay, Men |
4. Reeves, Zullo, Puc, Kluth, 7:25.46** |
* Record Book Mark
** New School Record
