ARKANSAS’S QUEST FOR the men’s team title had high point-potential in this event, with Jamaican seniors Rivaldo Marshall and Tyrice Taylor as the year’s two fastest entrants.
The wild card here was Northern Arizona’s Colin Sahlman, who set a Collegiate Indoor Record (1:44.70) in February, won the NCAA Indoor 3000 in March, improved his 800 PR in April, and has 3:33/3:52 1500/mile capabilities. A fast early pace could play to his strengths.
The semis qualified 2 automatically plus 3 on time. Taylor and Michigan’s Miles Brown finished 1–2 in the first, and their 1:46.98 and 1:47.01 off a very casual early tempo were by far the slowest qualifying times.
The second semi was 2 seconds faster at the 400, and Sahlman was lucky to hold off Penn State’s Allon Clay for the automatic qualifier, 1:45.56–1:45.76, behind Texas A&M frosh Peter Narumbe’s 1:45.49.
Marshall dominated the third semi, passing the bell in 51.00 and finishing unchallenged in 1:45.05. Christian Jackson (Virginia Tech), Niko Schultz (Penn State), and Michigan’s Camden Law took the other finals spots, leaving Bradley’s Jamie Phillips as the fastest non-qualifier with his 1:45.77.
Clay disclosed his finals strategy from the start, sprinting into the backstretch to grab the pole and the lead. At the 200, he was trailed by Marshall, Taylor, Brown and Law, with Sahlman far back in last.
That order remained at 400, passed by Clay in 50.6, just ahead of Marshall (50.7), Taylor and Brown (both 50.9). Sahlman, at 51.3 and visibly working hard, looked out of it.
Appearances are deceiving. Halfway down the backstretch, Marshall passed Clay, and Sahlman awakened, running in lane 3 and moving into 6th.
Marshall passed 600 in the lead, followed by Taylor, Clay, Narumbe and Brown, with Sahlman gaining, running wide around the curve. The ensuing 22 seconds were reminiscent (for some of us) of Dave Wottle’s stunning 800 finish at the 1972 Olympics.
Into the last 100, the first 3 remained the same, but Sahlman was now 4th.
With 70m remaining, Taylor moved past Marshall, and Sahlman, sprinting all-out, went by Clay; 30m later, Sahlman overhauled Marshall, and 5m from the line, drew even with Taylor, then barely outleaned him for the win.
His time, 1:44.22, was a PR and the second-fastest ever at an NCAA championship.
“The only thing I remember is putting my head down and just going,” said Sahlman. “I looked up with 20m to go, thought I could get it, and the only thoughts going through my mind were just ‘Go, go, go, don’t hold anything back and just get to that line, no matter how much it takes.’”
MEN’S 800 RESULTS
FINAL (June 12)
1. Colin Sahlman (NnAz) 1:44.22 PR (51.29/52.93) (6, 6 C);
2. Tyrice Taylor’ (Ar-Jam) 1:44.30 (50.88/53.42) (9, 9 C);
3. Rivaldo Marshall’ (Ar-Jam) 1:44.93 (50.72/54.21);
4. Allon Clay’ (PennSt-Jpn) 1:44.98 (50.57/54.41);
5. ***Peter Narumbe’ (TxAM-Ken) 1:45.37 (51.09/54.28);
6. Niko Schultz’ (PennSt-PR) 1:45.50 (51.26/54.24);
7. Miles Brown (Mi) 1:45.59 (50.92/54.67);
8. Christian Jackson (VaT) 1:45.63 (51.04/54.59);
9. *Camden Law (Mi) 1:46.24 (51.08/55.16).
SEMIS (June 10)
I–1. Taylor’ 1:46.98; 2. Brown 1:47.01; 3. *Harry Ross-Hughes’ (MsSt-GB) 1:47.18; 4. ***Stephen Mutai’ (TxT-Ken) 1:47.97; 5. Hannes Fahl (Nb) 1:48.24; 6. Samuel Navarro (MsSt) 1:48.51; 7. **Aden Bandukwala (Duke) 1:48.98; 8. ***Jailan Sohna’ (IaSt-GB) 1:57.12.
II–1. Narumbe’ 1:45.49; 2. Sahlman 1:45.56; 3. Clay’ 1:45.76; 4. Camden Marshall (In) 1:45.88; 5. *Tinoda Matsatsa (Gtn) 1:45.92; 6. *Landon Bott (UtSt) 1:46.53; 7. Dayton Carlson (AzSt) 1:47.00; 8. Yukichi Ishii’ (PennSt-Jpn) 1:48.13.
III–1. Marshall’ 1:45.05; 2. Jackson 1:45.38; 3. Schultz’ 1:45.47; 4. Law 1:45.56 PR; 5. **Jamie Phillips’ (Brad-GB) 1:45.77; 6. Reece Sharman-Newell’ (TxAM-GB) 1:46.23; 7. Ryan Farrell (Louis) 1:46.99; 8. *Keyshawn Garcia (SFA) 1:51.81.
