AZUSA, CALIFORNIA, April 17 — Not to be outshone by the women’s 5000 at the Clay Invitational on Azusa Pacific’s campus, the men made a statement of their own. New Mexico soph Habtom Samuel’s winning contribution was the fastest-ever outdoor 5000 by a collegian.
Pacesetters Clement Duigou and Theo Quax led early through 1K ahead of U.S. Olympian Woody Kincaid, Washington State’s Evans Kurui, Cal Baptist’s Valentin Soca, NCAA 10,000 champ Samuel and his Lobo teammate Ishmael Kipkurui, Northern Arizona’s Drew Bosley and David Mullarkey.
The 3000 mark found Kurui leading in 7:54.89, followed by Samuel, an expiring Quax, Soca and Kipkurui. On the next lap, Samuel took over and never looked back. He would gradually distance from Kipkurui, finishing in 13:05.87, the best collegiate outdoor mark ever, covering his final 1600 in 4:06.66.
Runner-up Kipkurui finished in 13:09.24, followed by Soca (13:13.10), Kurui (13:16.01) and Bosley (13:17.06).
“Our training is really good, and it’s really good having Ishmael on the team,” said Samuel in praise of his runner-up teammate. Kipkurui won The TEN 25-lapper 20 days earlier in Collegiate Record time with Samuel just 0.85 behind.
“Ishmael is the top guy,” Samuel continued. “You see in the 10K how good he was, and it’s good to have him in the race. We’re gonna push each other and try our best. It’s good, my teammate is my main competitor this time, so it’s good, it’s good.” At last, an instance where the oft-debatable quip “It’s all good” applied.
A world-leading 8:13.89 by Louisville frosh Geoffrey Kirwa highlighted the steeplechase. Montana State’s Rob McManus clocked a U.S.-leading 8:26.83, followed by Iowa State’s Joash Ruto (8:27.22) and Akron’s Bismack Kipchirchir (8:27.51).
Furman’s Dylan Schubert edged Texas Tech’s Ernest Cheruiyot 27:45.63–27:45.65 to take a tight 10,000.
The 1500s provided a plethora of fast times with a well credentialed mostly domestic field in the elite section: Washington’s NCAA indoor runner-up Nathan Green, teammate Ronan McMahon-Staggs, former Huskies Joe Waskom and Sam Ellis, Georgetown’s Abel Teffra, New Mexico’s Samuel, Cal Poly’s Aidan McCarthy and Portland’s Matt Strangio.
Green utilized a 55.19 last lap to overtake Teffra and Colorado’s Isaiah Givens to win in 3:35.52, just a wink in front of Ellis’ 3:35.57, whose 54.69 jumped him from 8th to 2nd. Teffra ran in 3rd in 3:35.81 followed by McCarthy (3:36.49) and Givens (3:37.52).
Down in 11th, Samuel completed a very respectable 5/15 double, finishing in 3:38.60.
CLAY MEN’S RESULTS
800: 1. Kyle Reinheimer (Wa) 1:46.09; 2. ***Tyler Mathews (BYU) 1:46.20; 3. *Reece Sharman-Newell’ (CoStP-GB) 1:46.50.
1500: I–1. *Nathan Green (Wa) 3:35.52; 2. Sam Ellis (On) 3:35.57; 3. Abel Teffra (Gtn) 3:35.81; 4. *Aidan McCarthy (SLO) 3:36.49;… 11. **Habtom Samuel’ (NM–Eri) 3:38.60. IV–1. **Harvey Cramb’ (MtSt-Aus) 3:37.31.
St: 1. ***Geoffrey Kirwa’ (Louis-Ken) 8:13.89 (2, 3 C);
2. *Rob McManus (MtSt) 8:26.83; 3. ***Joash Ruto’ (IaSt-Ken) 8:27.22; 4. ***Bismack Kipchirchir’ (Akr-Ken) 8:27.51; 5. Titouan Le Grix’ (Wingate-Fra) 8:29.02.
5000: 1. Samuel’ 13:05.87 (x, 5 C) (1, 1 out C); 2. ***Ishmael Kipkurui’ (NM-Ken) 13:09.24 (8, 10 C);
3. *Valentin Soca’ (CalBap-Uru) 13:13.10; 4. **Evans Kurui’ (WaSt-Ken) 13:16.01; 5. Drew Bosley (NnAz) 13:17.06; 6. Woody Kincaid (Nike) 13:23.66; 7. ***Collins Kiprotich’ (NM-Ken) 13:25.64; 8. Patrick Kiprop’ (Ken) 13:27.71.
10,000: 1. Dylan Schubert (Furm) 27:45.63; 2. **Ernest Cheruiyot’ (TxT-Ken) 27:45.65; 3. ***Dismus Lokira’ (Al-Ken) 27:47.20; 4. William Amponsah’ (WTxAM-Gha) 27:47.93; 5. Said Mechaal’ (IaSt-Spa) 27:48.08; 6. ***Robin Kwemoi Bera’ (IaSt-Ken) 27:56.79.
110H(-0.2): 1. Christian Martin (Mn) 13.72; 2. *TJ Caldwell (Ar) 13.76.
400H: 1. Sean Dixon (OkB) 50.88.
SP: 1. Daniel Viveros (unat) 61-10½ (18.86).
DT: 1. Jordan Roach (unat) 200-5 (61.08).
HT: 1. Hugo Sorby’ (Swe) 218-7 (66.62).
