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Sean McGorty Ends Stanford Career With 5,000-Meter Title at NCAA Division 1 Outdoor Championships

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DyeStat.com   Jun 9th 2018, 10:29am
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Stanford has teammates win back-to-back years for the first time since 2000-01; Big Ten sweeps 800, 1,500 and 3,000 steeplechase crowns with Harris, Hoare and Ali

By Erik Boal, DyeStat Editor

EUGENE Sean McGorty sat home last year and watched the men’s 5,000-meter final at the NCAA Division 1 Outdoor Championships, celebrating teammate Grant Fisher holding off Arkansas’ Jack Bruce and Syracuse’s Justyn Knight to capture Stanford’s first title since Ryan Hall in 2005.

Ten days later, McGorty was in Colorado with Stanford coach Chris Miltenberg having surgery to repair an injured Achilles.

Although the recovery was long and the rehabilitation demanding for the fifth-year senior, McGorty returned Friday to Hayward Field and won his final race as a Cardinal, clocking 13 minutes, 54.81 seconds to prevail against Knight (13:55.03) and Fisher (13:55.04), securing Stanford’s fifth title in the event in the past two decades.

“I’m extremely grateful. My coach talked to me about that before I raced for the first time since injury in indoor track, and since then, it’s really stuck with me, just being incredibly grateful for each race and for pain-free running,” McGorty said.

“I’m thankful for my coaches, family and teammates, for everybody helping me get back to the starting line and continuing to improve.

“I’m extremely grateful for this last moment in a Stanford jersey. I’ve never been asked to do a victory lap at Hayward Field, so that was pretty special.”

McGorty finished second to Oregon star and 17-time NCAA champion Edward Cheserek in the 5,000 final in 2016, before the injury forced him to redshirt last season and return for a fifth year.

“It’s been a long journey, but Sean was determined to get back to this level and have this opportunity, no matter how many people and how many times he was told he couldn’t or wouldn’t be able to again,” Miltenberg said. “I was there with him when he went into surgery and after they took him in, I had to go outside, because it was just very difficult for me knowing what he was going to have to go through to get back on the track. That’s why this is so emotional, not only for me, but for so many people involved with our program. This is why I coach, for moments like this. It’s incredibly special.

Fisher was looking to follow Arizona’s Lawi Lalang and Cheserek by capturing back-to-back titles, but he was proud to share in another memorable moment at Hayward Field, as he and McGorty became the first teammates to win the 5,000 in consecutive years since Stanford’s Brad Hauser and Jonathon Riley in 2000-01.

“Seeing Sean up there, that’s incredible. Sean has been my biggest role model at Stanford. He’s had his ups and his downs and to see him go through all that and to see him come out now with a win in his final race at Stanford is amazing,” Fisher said. “I’m so happy for him and at the finish line, I was so excited. It would have been nicer to go 1-2, of course, but I could have executed a little better in that last 200 to make that happen.

“I’ve seen first hand everything he’s done with staying late at practice to get in his physical therapy and coming back from surgeries and a lot of doctors saying he was never going to be the same runner he was. This is a guy who has been so influential in my Stanford career so far, it’s tough to see him go after this year, but this is the best way to go out for him, so I’m really excited.”

Just like two years ago, McGorty had the lead entering the final lap, after moving to the front of the pack with 700 meters remaining. But despite Knight and Fisher closing the last 400 in slightly faster times, McGorty created enough of a gap to secure the victory after being edged by Cheserek in 2016.

“I thought I was in a good spot with 200 meters to go, but I think Sean kind of got a jump on the field right there and never really let it up,” Fisher said. “He’s my teammate and I want the best thing for him, but personally I think I would have had a better finish if I was in a better position to attack the last 100.”

McGorty, a 10-time All-American, finally secured an individual title by having enough left in the last 50 meters to prevail against NCAA champions Knight, Fisher and Northern Arizona senior Andy Trouard (13:55.46).

“The thing coach Milt and I really talked about was just trusting myself. As I started to get back to the way I was racing my junior year and just having that level of confidence that when I go to the lead, it’s not to try to run away from everyone because I don’t think I can kick the last lap, it’s to be proactive and take the race into my own hands and not be worried about what’s behind me. I think that this was the first time I’ve really done that all season, so obviously it was good timing,” McGorty said. “It helps when I’m practicing every day with one of the best guys in the nation. Watching him last year when I was back on campus was such joy. He’s still young and hopefully he can come back next year and keep it in the family.”

Knight was trying to add an outdoor championship to a career resume that includes cross country and indoor titles. But he couldn’t help but appreciate McGorty’s comeback and his memorable performance in their collegiate finale.

“Sean is a great friend of mine. I’ve known him for five years, so I’m very happy for him to get a ‘W’ in his last race,” Knight said. “At the end of the day, we’re on the line and we’re competitors, but after the race, part of the reason why I came out so late is because I was talking with Grant and Sean for a very long time. We’ve all built friendships while we’re in the NCAA and I think that’s very important.”

The Big 10 Conference swept the 800, 1,500 and 3,000 steeplechase titles.

Minnesota junior Obsa Ali elevated from 14th last year and not qualifying for the 3,000 steeplechase final to winning the title in a personal-best 8:32.23. Houston senior Brian Barraza led entering the final 400, but stumbled over the first barrier and landed on his right shoulder and the side of his head, before regrouping to place 10th in 8:44.42.

Ali used the commotion surrounding Barraza’s fall to surge past Eastern Kentucky senior Jamaine Coleman (8:33.52) and never relinquished the lead.

“I remember last year, I was watching this race from the stands,” Ali said. “I was very disappointed and my coach actually made me come back and watch it. I knew I wouldn’t want that feeling again this year. I took it race by race, made the finals, and what happened, happened, and I won. I still can’t believe it.”

Penn State senior Isaiah Harris won the men’s 800, prevailing in 1:44.76, with collegiate record holder Michael Saruni of UTEP taking third in 1:45.31.

“It feels amazing. I’m still speechless. It hasn’t sunk in yet. I think I’m going to go home and let it sink in, so I can finally enjoy the moment,” Harris said. “I came in with one goal, and that was to win. I know I’m a good racer and (Michael) Saruni is talented, but there was no doubt in my mind that I could win this one. I know a lot of people didn’t have their money on me and they all thought it was a sure bet that it was Saruni, but I didn’t let that get to me. I kept focused, and I knew I was fit and ready to go.”

Wisconsin sophomore Oliver Hoare also took down a collegiate record holder by prevailing against defending 1,500 champion Josh Kerr of New Mexico.

With Kerr and Virginia Tech senior Vincent Ciattei battling down the final stretch, Hoare managed to stay out of traffic and sprinted to the line, clocking 3:44.77 to become the first Wisconsin athlete since Don Gehrmann (1948-50) to win the event at nationals.

“The caliber (of the field) this year was incredible. Josh Kerr is a phenomenal athlete, but I wanted to see what I could do,” Hoare said. “Like every athlete, you want to stay out of trouble as much as possible. I just wanted to make sure I stayed off that rail and kept clear. I got clipped a couple of times, and I know I some of the other boys did, but you have to stay composed even if that happens and just keep pushing through.”



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