2001 NCAA Steeplechase Finals

Here's my claim to fame race. 2001 NCAA Steeplechase Finals at Hayward Field, Eugene, Oregon. The field didn't have any clear cut favorite. This turned out to be a breakout race for Danny Lincoln. He never lost a steeple title after this one. I lost to him by .5 second and now he's the American record holder in the Steeple (broke in 2006). Makes me wonder what I could have done had I enjoyed the sweet hookups he had!


The first mile went out fairly slow due to the wind. Nobody wanted to lead and we were clipping off 69-70 laps.
I took the lead a mile into the race. We came through about 4:42 for the mile if my memory serves me correct. Although I took the lead, I didn't push the pace too much quicker.
This is coming up on 2 laps to go. I was feeling a bit fatigued, but I could tell I had a lot of juice left in my legs. I was getting rather excited.
This was in the first mile, I just got the photo sequence out of order.
With 600 to go I was still leading, but made a mistake that cost me the race. Andy Tate (far left Kansas) went by me on my outside and I didn't respond. Everyone else followed him, boxing me inside and in 200 meters I went from first to 10th. With a lap to go I had to drop out the back of the pack and kick it into high gear. I caught up with the leaders going over the last water jump. I was a stride behind Lincoln (Arkansas) going over the last barrier. I just ran out of juice with 20 meters to go and I couldn't reel him in. I ran the fastest last lap (61-62) than anyone out there, but if I would have been in the front at the start of the last lap, I could have out kicked everyone in the field. I had more miler speed than anyone in the field. It's a mistake I'll remember for the rest of my life! Second place is the first loser right???