Over the weekend, collegiate athletes from around the country went head-to-head against their conference rivals, sparking some wild moments on the track. Between NCAA-leading times, jaw-dropping wipeouts, and incredible comebacks, the postseason kicked off in a big way. Here are five moments that caught our attention.
A gnarly fall didn’t stop Ben Shearer from a podium finish
Just three minutes into the men’s 5,000-meter final at the SEC Championships, five athletes fell to the ground in a massive mid-race pile-up. The collision caused a huge separation within the field and some athletes ultimately dropped out of the race as a result. But Ben Shearer got back up and fought his way back into contention. Over the next several laps, the junior from the University of Arkansas regained his position and kicked to a runner-up finish in 13:50.19, less than a second behind SEC champion Toby Gillen of Ole Miss.
With blood dripping down his face and holes in his singlet from competitors stepping on his back, Shearer told ESPN commentator John Anderson he didn’t panic because he trusted his coach’s training.
“Well, this is exactly the worst scenario that I pictured,” he said on the broadcast. “But my second thought was to pop right back up—I’m still feeling good, I’m going to try and compete with the greats right here beside me.”
Shearer’s breakthrough performance helped the Razorbacks claim the men’s team title by 10.5 points over Georgia. It was also his best individual finish at the conference meet to date.
His teammate Paityn Noe also rebounded from a hard fall in the women’s 5,000 meters. Two days after winning the 10,000-meter title in 32:49.70, the sophomore from Arkansas returned to race the 5,000 meters on Saturday. After wiping out in the first mile, she got back up and ultimately finished second in 15:28.85.
Doris Lemngole executes an incredible double
Continuing the momentum of a historic season, Doris Lemngole dominated two events at the SEC Championships. On Friday, the sophomore from Alabama repeated as the women’s steeplechase champion in 9:20.83, 30 seconds ahead of the runner-up. The next day, the NCAA cross-country champion stormed to victory again in the 5,000 meters, winning her second title in a personal best of 15:11.62.
Meghan Hunter breaks through in the 800 meters
At the Big 12 Conference Championships, Meghan Hunter had the race of her life. The senior from Brigham Young University won the women’s 800-meter crown in 1:58.99, a new Big 12 meet record and huge improvement on her previous personal best (2:00.21). She is now No. 3 on the collegiate all-time list. Hunter was navigating an injury during the indoor track season, but has since rebounded in a big way this spring. The only athlete who has run faster so far this season is Michaela Rose of LSU (1:58.12).
An epic spill highlights the men’s steeplechase at Big Tens
Between the water jump and barriers on all sides of the track, the steeplechase always delivers the drama at track meets. And the Big Ten Conference Championships was no different. In the first heat of the men’s steeplechase, Ian Hill of Michigan did a full nosedive into the water pit just three and a half minutes into the race. The wipeout was captured by track photographer Howard Lao, who was posted right next to the jump at Hayward Field in Eugene, Oregon.
Football phenom Micahi Danzy runs an NCAA lead in the men’s 400m
In his first ACC outdoor championship, freshman Micahi Danzy dominated the men’s 400-meter final. The dual-sport athlete, who also plays wide receiver for the Florida State football team, won the conference title in 44.38 seconds, which is now No. 7 on the U20 world all-time list. Danzy also broke the ACC meet and conference record while resetting the FSU school record in the event.
Taylor Dutch is a writer and editor living in Austin, Texas, and a former NCAA track athlete who specializes in fitness, wellness, and endurance sports coverage. Her work has appeared in Runner’s World, SELF, Bicycling, Outside, and Podium Runner.
