NCAA REGIONALS EVENT PREVIEW - 3000M STEEPLECHASE
By Chris Lotsbom
(c) 2010 Race Results Weekly, all rights reserved
Here is our 3000m steeplechase preview for the NCAA Regionals, our final in this series.
MEN -
EASTERN REGIONAL -
The top returner is Butler University senior Stephen Lisgo. Lisgo, a
Briton, is the Horizon League champion in the event, and is coming off
of a third place finish at NCAA's last year. He has the third fastest
seasonal time in the field, 8:46.35, and a career best of 8:35.49. The
fastest seasonal time belongs to Louisville junior Matt Hughes. The
Big East Conference champion, Hughes has not lost a steeplechase race
all year, and has a season's best of 8:41.98. Also in the race is the
Big Ten Conference champion, De'Sean Turner of Indiana. Turner is tied
with Ole Miss athlete Barnabas Kirui for the second-fastest time in the
field. Others to watch include Kenyans Evans Kigen (JR, Liberty) and
Martin Kirui (SR, Ole Miss).
Photo: Nelson at last year's NCAAs won by teammate Kyle Perry. |
WESTERN REGIONAL -
In the West, the favorite coming in is Iowa State junior Hillary Bor.
The Kenyan finished second last year and fourth in 2008 at the NCAA
Championships. This year, Bor looks like the man to beat. He won the
Big Twelve title, and has the fastest time of all collegians in the
steeple this year: 8:38.05. Also returning from last year's NCAA
Championship final is BYU senior Richard Nelson (seasonal best of
8:43.27), Texas Tech junior Gilbert Limo (8:42.99), and Wisconsin
senior Ryan Gasper (8:42.88). Nelson placed 10th, Limo 13th, and
Gasper 14th in 2009, and are all looking to improve upon those
finishes. Challenging them will be Cal's Steve Sodaro, a junior who
has the third fastest start time in the field (8:40.60).
Photo: Franek had a fantastic year in 2009, running at worlds for the USA. |
WOMEN -
EASTERN REGIONAL -
The big favorite in this region for the women is Penn State's Bridget
Franek. The senior has run well at NCAA's before (she was fourth last
year). This year, Franek has won the Penn State Open and Big Ten
Championship, setting a season best of 9:48.28. Looking at seed times,
Franek has nearly a ten second advantage on the rest of the field, she
will have to deal with a few contenders who could spoil her day at
regionals. A pair of juniors in Ashley Higginson (Princeton) and Sarah
Pease (Indiana) could be factors in the race. Higginson won the ECAC
title, while Pease placed second at the Big Ten Championship behind
Franek. Their season's best times are 9:57.50 and 9:59.16,
respectively. Making her debut at NCAA Outdoors will be Providence
freshman Shelby Greany, the reigning USA junior cross country champion.
The Big East Championship winner, Greany won two of her three
steeplechase races this year, only finishing behind Higginson at
ECAC's. She has a season's best time of 10:08.66. Also watch out for
Syracuse's Heather Stephens and Rebekah MacKay, as well as South
Carolina's Beatrice Biwott.
WESTERN REGIONAL -
With Jenny Barringer out of the collegiate ranks, it is time for
another steeplechaser to step up in the West. There are a handful of
contenders who could be the next Barringer, but no one woman stands out
from the rest. The top returner from last year's NCAA Championship is
Washington's Mel Lawrence, who placed third a year ago. Lawrence has
only run one steeplechase this year, a 10:20.79 effort to place third
at the PAC-10 Championships. Her time only places her 13th in the
region, but look for her to improve upon the time this weekend.
Winning the PAC-10 Championship was Colorado sophomore Emma Coburn,
who also has the fastest time in the field, and the only sub-10:00 in
the region: 9:56.29. She will try to follow in former Buffalo
Barringer's footsteps and make it to the national meet and take the
NCAA title home to Boulder. Erin Bedell of Baylor will also be
contending for top regional honors. The senior placed sixth last year,
and has the fourth fastest time in the West this year (10:03.81). The
second fastest time in the field belongs to Kristen Hemphill, a senior
out of Colorado State (10:02.59). Oregon's Claire Michel and SMU's
Silje Fjortoft, both juniors, will aim to return to nationals for the
second consecutive year.
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