Matt VanDenHengel of Gwynedd Mercy College found out he was running against Alan Webb about five minutes before the race. "I got really nervous," he admitted.
But then he went out and had the moment of his life, defeating Webb in the 800-meter run at the Metropolitan Coaches Collegiate Invitational, 1:54.52 to 1:55.02.
VanDenHengel — whose time was an indoor personal-best — also drew a blank when asked his biggest previous opponent. "I've met [Bernard] Lagat, but you don't get many chances to run against one of the greatest middle distance runners in American history."