BOSTON, Mass. – The Yale men's track and field team finished off its best indoor track season in recent years this morning at the IC4A Championship, held at Boston University. In the mile, senior psychology major Allen Siegler set a new PR to finish second, while fellow Californian Henry Saul stormed to a new PR in the 3000m.
After narrowly missing out on the 4-minute mile at their last visit to BU – for the Valentine Invitational – Siegler and Nick Dahl's final was hotly anticipated, for they had announced to the field that they would once again try to join that fabled, exclusive club. After setting the early pace, Siegler ceded the lead to Dahl, who rotated to a willing and able UConn athlete who would keep the group within touching distance, taking them through halfway in 2:01.05.
Having won all but one of his indoor races this year, Dahl was the pre-race favorite. However, his repeated superhuman efforts last week seemed to have sucked the strength from his legs and as he began to fade Siegler attacked the task ahead of him with the tenacity for which he has become renowned in his four years as a Bulldog. Needing a 58-second final 400m, Siegler gave everything he had, grimacing as he was cruelly outkicked into the final straight and collapsing across the line in a new personal record time of 4:02.87. Dahl battled to ninth. Undoubtedly, as the team looks toward the upcoming outdoor season, Sunday's results will give two of the Bulldogs' star performers the extra motivation to step up to the next level and lead their teammates to the NCAA Regionals and beyond.
Reflecting, Siegler said: "It's been an absolute blast to compete this year. If people take anything away from my season, I hope it's that the college track and field experience is a four year process. If things don't go your way year one or two, that's totally fine. What's important is you continue to love the sport and never give up. And, as always, so incredibly thankful for my coaches, teammates, friends, and family."
Inspired, Henry Saul and Harrison Smith lined up for the 3000m. In the first section the pace was hot from the start, and Saul showed impressive composure as he settled into the pack, rolling through the mile in 4:25, faster than he ran when he competed in the mile at YDC. He hardly slowed, too, and fought hard in the final lap to break his PR by more than two seconds, running 8:25.67. In the second heat, Smith showed purpose from the gun, settling into second place. However, the pace was distinctly slow – coming through the mile in 4:32 – and when it picked up the intense indoor season seemed to drag Smith back, his legs sapped of the required speed. He crossed the line in 8:37.00 and will now gladly turn his attention outdoors.
In all, though the Bulldogs continued to demonstrate that they have – in all aspects – stepped up to a new level this year. One feels sure that when they look back on a break-out outdoor track season they will appreciate the lessons learnt and the inspiration taken from the IC4As.