WASHINGTON – A pair of Hoyas advanced to the 1,500-meter quarterfinals of the 2023 NCAA Outdoor Track & Field Championships East Preliminary on Wednesday.
Camden Gilmore and
Matthew Payamps both ran automatic qualifying times at the Visit Jax Track at Hodges Stadium on the campus of the University of North Florida. The four-day meet serves as a precursor to the finals site of the NCAA Championships, held June 7-10 in Austin, Texas.
ON THE RECORD
"All four men in the 1,500m competed very well. These fields are very good and tactical racing means anything can happen. Matt and Camden making it back was great. I'm excited for both of them to race on Friday with a spot in Austin on the line."- Assistant Track & Field Coach
Brandon Bonsey
HOW IT HAPPENED
- Gilmore ran the fastest Hoya time in the first round, clocking 3:45.05 to take fifth in the fourth heat and sixth overall. Gilmore stayed at the front of the pack through the entirety of the race. As the field surged over the final 200 meters, Gilmore's efforts early on were enough to stave off the other runners as he snagged the final automatic spot in what proved to be the fastest of the four heats.
- Payamps also claimed an automatic spot to the men's 1,500m quarterfinals as he finished fifth in the second heat, 12th overall, with a time of 3:45.84. Payamps stayed on the rail for most of the race and as the final straightaway saw a lot of runners making moves, Payamps held steady and split 54.92 over the last 400 meters to hold on to the final automatic qualifier.
- Abel Teffra narrowly missed out on a qualifying time as he finished sixth in the third heat and 24th overall. Teffra's time of 3:46.70 was the time to beat going into the fourth and final heat but a fast field pushed Teffra's time back.
- Matt Rizzo was in the first of four heats and he finished seventh in the 12-person field. With one lap to go, Rizzo was in good position but as the bell rang and the field made its moves, Rizzo struggled to stay among the top five and he crossed the finish line at 3:47.63, good enough for 32nd overall.
OF NOTE
- Gilmore and Payamps will compete in the NCAA outdoor quarterfinals in the 1,500-meter run for the first time in both of their careers. Payamps previously competed in an NCAA outdoor quarterfinals in 2021 when he advanced in the 800-meter run, where he finished 14th overall, falling short of advancing to the semifinals.
2023 NCAA CHAMPIONSHIPS EAST PRELIMINARY SCHEDULE
Thursday, May 25
6:30 p.m. - Women's 1,500m First Round (Corman, Gonzalez, Jensen, Riggins)
9:10 p.m. - Women's 10,000m Semifinal (Claeson)
Friday, May 26
5:15 p.m. - Men's 1,500m Quarterfinals (Gilmore, Payamps)
5:40 p.m. - Men's 3,000m Steeplechase Quarterfinals (Stokes, Tostenson)
Saturday, May 27
5:15 p.m. - Women's 1,500m Quarterfinals (TBD)
8:10 p.m. - Women's 5,000m Semifinal (Claeson, Scrimgeour)
