Four Red Devils ran their best race of the season at the most important track meet of the season. Three ran their 800-meter leg under two minutes.
Josh Whittaker, Tegan Michael, Garrett Colglazier and Evan Adams combined for a seventh-place finish in the 4×800-meter relay race at the 2012 NJCAA National Outdoor Track and Field Championships. The national meet was May 15-17 at Levelland, Texas.
The Allen Community College foursome ran the race in 7 minutes, 50.27 seconds, a new ACC school record.
“I was really impressed with how we competed early in the race. We finished three seconds out of third,” Vince DeGrado, ACC track head coach, said. “With 250 meters to go we moved into third place but faded in the last 50 meters.
“All in all, I was excited to see us compete and mix it up with the other schools.”
Whittaker ran a 1:55.98 leadoff leg then handed the baton to Michael for a 1:53.97 800 meters. Colglazier ran a 2:01.17 third leg and Adams anchored the Red Devils with a 1:58.15 final 800 meters.
Michael also competed in the open 800 meters. DeGrado said Michael suffered a minor injury to his groin during the relay race and was ineffective in the 800-meter run. Michael was 27th in 2:05.
Tsianina Whitetree was the lone ACC female athlete at the national track meet. She ran in the 1500-meter and 5,000-meter races. Whitetree placed 14th in the 5,000 meters in 20:38.73 and was 18th in the 1500 meters in 5:20.65.
“Tsianina struggled to follow up her indoor season. She had some minor injuries here and there during the outdoor season and just couldn’t put together the same consistent training she had during the indoor season,” DeGrado said.
