26 & 2 US Marathon List

USA Marathon Performance List
- The Top 28 Times in American Marathoning
(Updated March 29, 2005)

2:16:57, Chad Johnson (Rock ‘n’ Roll)
2:17:14, Clint Verran (Austin)
2:18:23, Mark Pilja (Austin)
2:21:24, Todd Witzleben (Austin)
2:22:33, Paul Aufdemberge (Austin)
2:22:36, Dennis Simonaitis (Hops by the Bay)
2:23:43, Chris Lundstrom (Napa Valley)
2:25:13, Michael Wardian (Inaugural Knoxville)
2:25:55, Matt Dressel (Austin)
2:26:32, Byrne Decker (Napa Valley)
2:27:13, Michael Wardian (Little Rock)
2:27:26, Scott Strand (Mercedes)
2:28:12, Hector Hernandez-Salazar (City of Los Angeles)
2:28:31, Kevin Beck (Disney World)
2:29:10, Brian Livingston (Las Vegas International)
2:29:46, Marty Dalton (Rock ‘n’ Roll)
2:30:12, Daniel Feldman (Las Vegas International)
2:30:36, Matt Lonergan (Austin)
2:30:50, Glen Mays (Little Rock)
2:30:53, James McGown (Austin)
2:30:59, Meyer Friedman (Mardi Gras)
2:31:01, Juan Ramirez (City of Los Angeles)
2:31:03, Justin Henkel (Napa Valley)
2:31:18, Gabriel Rodriguez (Houston)
2:31:20, Robert Marchinko (Myrtle Beach)
2:31:37, Matt Bozung (Shamrock Sportsfest)
2:32:01, Vaughn Gibbs (Houston)
2:32:11, Jeremy Borling (Disney World)

My Havana Track & Field study.. 

Eduardo and I posing before hitting up Miami with the "Stember/Ritz" look... 

My little brother, Eduardo, and I with the infamous Brother Herb Baker, Athletic Trainer of Columbus High School in Miami 

2005 NCAA Indoor Track Championships

My Predictions
First off, what a phenomenal year in the distance events. The bottom line is that if you did not run faster than 4:01.26 for the Mile, 7:56.77 for 3000m(!!!), and 13:53.35 for 5000m, you are sitting at home on championship weekend with some serious times.

Who says American distance running is hurting? This has to be one of the deepest years in recent memory. Eleven men ran faster than 1:48:00 for 800m, there were ten sub 4-minute milers, an amazing 24 men ran under 8:00 for 3000m, and a whopping 22 guys subbed-14 minutes: indoors, no less, and most of the times were run by pure Americans! The NCAA Division I has proven, once again, that the best indoor track running is done on the American circuit and not abroad.

So, who is bringing home the hardware? Below are my thoughts and predictions for the 2005 NCAA Division I Indoor Track Championships-

Men's 800m
1. Jonathon Johnson (Texas Tech), 1:48.28
2. Nate Brannen (Michigan), 1:48.29
3. James Hatch (Arkansas), 1:48.69
* The front-running Johnson has not run stellar in '05, but he does enter with the 3rd fastest time, 1:47.22. The Outdoor defending champion will be chased to the line by strength-runner and defending champion Brannen, while Hatch rebounds from a weak '05 as well and claims bronze after entering as the slowest entrant in 1:48.24. Also watch out for Christian Smith of Kansas State and Mike Inge of Kent State to challenge for the win in the most unpredictable of middle distance events.

Men's Mile
1. Sean Jefferson (Indiana), 3:58.69
2. Said Ahmed (Arkansas), 4:00.28
3. Nick Willis (Michigan), 4:00.72
* Defending indoor and outdoor champion Sean Jefferson is having a magical year of consistent training and racing. His out-kicking of Willis (who can sub-4 in the Mile holding his breath it seems, lately) at their conference championships must have been a huge confidence booster, but the reason I am going with Jefferson and not Willis is that Willis will have run not only the Mile Prelims, but also the DMR Mile anchor, which should be quite a battle to the wire. Ahmed is also running Mile Prelims and a DMR Mile, so I expect them to blow their tubes running 3:58 +/- on that leg, leaving Jefferson the freshest. Other guys to keep your eyes out for are Tom Lancashire of Florida State and Brian Lindsay of Brigham Young, along with the other Jefferson (John), and foreigners Benninger (Can-Michigan), Maiyo (Ken-Arizona) and super-frosh Manzano (Texas).

Men's 3000m
1. Nick Willis (Michigan), 7:58.29
2. Matt Tegenkamp (Wisconsin), 7:59.76
3. Robert Cheseret (Arizona), 8:01.29
* This will be a battle of the fittest, as it always is with the 3000m being the last event on the schedule. All of the main contenders will be doubling or tripling, thus, leading to some tired legs but some excellent racing. Willis placed 2nd in 2004 behind NCAA legendary Hog Alistair Cragg, so he has the experience. But so does Teg and Cheseret. Watch for Solinsky (Wisconsin) to have a solid race, but my wild card definitely has to go to the best young distance talent in the NCAA- Josh McDougal of Liberty. The kid constantly amazes me with his bravery and amazing ability. A surprise win here is not out of the question after the confidence he must have gained at the USATF 4K Cross Country Championships earlier in the year.

Men's 5000m
1. Robert Cheseret (Arizona), 13:56.28
2. Ian Dobson (Stanford), 13:58.30
3. Matt Tegenkamp (Wisconsin), 13:59.69
* Defending outdoor champion Cheseret has slowly been rounding into form for these championships, and if healthy, he will be tough to beat- just ask Dathan Ritzenhein. Dobson appears to be the last of the dying Cardinal dynasty in distance running and will once again be denied a national championship (he was runner-up in the 5000 in '04), while Tegenkamp will also be denied, though he enters with a sterling 13:36.48. Look for Hoya Rob Koborsi to continue his great season, while breakthrough Buffalo Brent Vaughn could win it all. Also keep a close eye on Matt Gonzales, as he nailed his late 13:49.06 qualifier just this past weekend. This should be a great race.

Madelyn helping Dad open his favorite Birthday present: Terry Goodkind's new book.