Chris Barnicle's NCAA Indoor championships debut came to a less-than-happy ending last night on his home track in Fayetteville, as the Arkansas junior faded in the final kilometers to finish in 14:43.
Two weeks ago, Chris ran a PR 13:56 for 5K, and for the first 1000 meters of the 5K final Friday, the pace seemed ideally suited to another good time. The splits show that Chris was in the tightly-grouped lead pack at 1K (2:47.9), a 14-minute pace. He was still there at 2K as the pace slowed slightly (5:38). That's when all hell broke lose. I haven't seen the video yet, so I'm not sure who the instigator was, but I'm guessing it was Alabama's David Tyson who threw in a couple of 64-second quarters to string out the pack.
The sustained surge didn't kill off everyone right away, but after the pack, with Chris in tow, passed 3K in 8:20, the damage had been done. The very strongest survived, with Texas Am&M's Shadrack Songok surviving best, winning in 13:51. Everyone else had a pretty miserable last 2K. Chris ran a 2:55 fourth 1000m, dropping to 8th and falling off the lead pack for the first time. The last 1000m was a shambles, and must have felt like it took all evening.
Let's hope Chris isn't discouraged by a bad race, in which he made a bid to stay with the leaders and paid the price. It's clear that the 5K is his race and his race two weeks ago is evidence that his fitness is certainly at the highest level it's ever been.
His experience at nationals is also an example of how championship races throw different things at you than other races, and how you have to be prepared -- mentally and physically -- for anything.
Archbishop William's grad and LaSalle Senior Sean Quigley weathered the stormy middle of the race well, and finished a strong 3rd in 13:54.
Lowell's Brian Gagnon was eliminated in the 800 prelims, as he got stuck in a slow heat and didn't manage one of the top two places and automatic qualifying spots.
NCAA D1 Championship Results
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