|
On Sunday night I was fortunate enough to witness the best performance that I have ever seen from a Chico State athlete. Junior Scott Bauhs, competing at the Payton Jordan Invitational on the Stanford's Cobb track, ran the fastest 10k by an American this outdoor season while placing 7th in an amazingly deep field that included many international runners tuning up for the Olympic Games this summer. To make this accomplishment even more incredible, Scott had competed the day before at our CCAA championships in LA (he won the 1500m event).
His time 27:48.06 was a huge improvement over his 28:54 run the year previous at the Stanford Invitational and most importantly landed him safely under the 27:50 “A” standard for the Olympic Games. What this means is that Scott is one of only 7 American men who have met the Olympic qualifying mark for the 10k distance (which needs to be met if one finishes high enough at the Olympic Trials). While recording this new PR Scott also became the fourth fastest American Collegian for the 10k distance, and the 9th fastest collegian ever. He also became the first NCAA DII athlete to run under 28 minutes for the distance, giving him his first DII national record.
Knowing the field was loaded with talent, Scott initially settled toward the back of a 30 man field, expecting a quick early tempo. Thankfully everyone seemed content to allow the pace to build as the race progressed and Scott crossed 800m at 69 pace per lap (running 29th-30th overall at the time). As the tempo quickened up front, Scott started to work his way through the field, knowing that he had to be within reach of the leaders by the 5k mark if he was to attain the Olympic A
|
Standard. Playing his cards to absolute perfection Scott hit 1600m in 4:32 and picked up the pace from there. A 4:27 second mile brought Scott almost to mid pack (3200m split=8:59). Dictating the pace at the front was a host of talented International runners, headed by Australian standout Craig Motram. Motram’s PR’s for the mile, 3k, and 5k distances to put the quality of this field into perspective are: 3:48, 7:32 and 12:55. Also quite talented at various distances is Austrian Guenther Weidlinger who has his country’s national records for the steeple, 5k, and after this race was through, the 10k! Britian’s Mo Farah has run 13:05 for the 5k distance and is considered Great Brittan’s top distance runner. At 5 kilometers Bauhs ran at the back end of the pack just a few seconds behind these athletes (reached in 13:59) and a host of others with impressive credentials as well. Having talked to Scott before the race about hopefully running even or negative splits, I was confident by watching his reactions to moves ahead and his posture within the pack that he was ready for what would have to be a 13:50ish final 5k to reach the “A” standard.
Event 21 Men 10000 Meter Run Kim McDonald
================================================================
D1 Reg: R 29:30.00
D1 Auto: A 28:45.00
Name Year School Finals
================================================================
Finals
1 Craig Mottram Melbourne Tr 27:34.48 <2 sec short of Australia NR
2 Guenther Weidlinger Austria 27:36.46 National Record (NR)
3 Josphat Boit adidas 27:40.64
4 Takayuki Matsumiya Konica-Minolta 27:41.75
5 Mo Farah adidas 27:44.54
6 Juan Carlos Romero Unattached 27:47.46
7 Scott Bauhs Chico State 27:48.06 Fastest American 2008!!!
8 Fasil Bizuneh New Balance 27:50.48 #2 American time 2008
9 Satoshi Irifune Kanebo 27:56.33
10 Jan Fitschen Nike 28:02.55
11 Alejandro Suarez Unattached 28:06.43
12 Eric Gillis Speed River 28:07.19
13 Collis Birmingham Melbourne Tr 28:08.23 Mt Sac 5k Champion/’08 Olympian
14 Yuuki Nakamura Kanebo 28:30.99
15 Rod Koborsi Reebok 28:31.37
16 John Moore Portland 28:32.31
17 Pieter Desmet Golazo Sports 28:33.44
18 Japtheth Ngo'joy Utep 28:33.68
19 Edwardo Torres Reebok 28:33.89
20 Suehiro Ishikawa Honda Motors Sayama 28:34.31
21 Michael Kilburg Portland 28:34.51
22 Naoki Okamoto Chuugoku Ele 28:48.24
23 Dan Browne Nike 28:52.21
24 Hideaki Date Chuugoku Ele 29:03.98
25 Fernando Cabada Reebok 29:10.67
-- Yuki Sato Tokai Univ. DNF
-- Bolota Asmerom Otc Elite DNF
-- Andrew Lemoncello Adidas DNF
-- Chris Graff Asics DNF
-- Monder Rizki Unattached DNF
|
The metric 4 mile was reached in 17:51 and Bauhs now ran near the tail end of what was approximately a 12 man lead pack. The fifth mile of a 10k is a struggle for most, and this is where athletes generally start to crack under the pressures of a constant pace. One by one athletes broke in front of Bauhs in the fifth mile and soon he was running within the Top-5-6 on the heels of Weidlinger, Farah, and Mexico’s Juan Carlos Romero. Eight Kilometers was reached in a startling 22:19 and Scott looked great.
Sensing a big run Bauhs began to press the pace feeling as though he might be able to move up to the heels of Mottram. Unfortunately Motram had other ideas as he dropped the pace himself notching a 63ish lap from a mile out. Despite running 65 and 66 second 21st and 22nd laps, Bauhs was dropped by a group of five (Mottram, Weidlinger, Boit, Matsumiya, and Farah). Not unlike the situation at Mt Sac several weeks previous, Bauhs would now have to maintain his pace, while running alone as the five ahead inched away with each straightaway. The 23rd lap was a 67.7 and Bauhs was caught by fellow American Fasil Bizuneh and Mexico’s Romero.
As the two tried to sail by the Junior from Chico, Bauhs responded and held position close to the pair. From 800m out, Bauhs recorded a much needed 66 second lap, which put him at 26:45.53 with a lap to go. This meant he would need a 64 or better for the final revolution to dip under the Olympic “A” mark. Seeing the clock with 400m to go, Bauhs recognized his position and what needed to be done to gain the qualifying standard. He quickened his tempo and re-passed Bizuneh and now gave chase to Romero who had escaped the pair in the previous lap. With a check of the clock with 200m remaining Scott knew he needed only a 32 to hit the standard, so he pressed with all he had around the final turn and down the straight. Although he didn’t catch Romero he did run a 30 for the final 200m.
Although he’d just run a 27:48 10k you’d have never known it as Bauhs stared at the giant Scoreboard on the South end of the Stanford facility, waiting for the official word on times and places to flash across the screen as they had so many times before. Unfortunately for Bauhs he was kept on ice for some time before the announcer beat the scoreboard to the punch, announcing Scott’s official time as 27:48.06 and the new 2008 American Leader for the 10k event! Hearing this Bauhs jumped in the air with arms overhead in a rare display of emotion, for what was a very deserved accomplishment. A large Chico contingent composed of current student athletes, parents, Alumni, and even athletes from other teams shared their excitement with Bauhs as he dished out “high fives” to the rowdy group who had set up camp on the track's first turn.
- Coach Gary Towne
|
All time Collegiate List for Men’s 10,000m:
10,000 METERS
27:33.48 Galen Rupp (Or) 04/29/07
27:36.2 Gabriel Kamau’ (UTEP) 04/24/82
27:38.1 Gidamis Shahanga’ (UTEP) 04/24/82
27:38.50 Dathan Ritzenhein (Co) 04/30/04
27:38.6 Zack Barie’ (UTEP) 04/24/82
27:41.05 Ed Eyestone (BYU) 04/27/85
27:46.47 Boaz Cheboiywo’ (EnMi) 05/02/03
27:46.6 Henry Rono’ (WaSt) 05/19/78
27:48.06 Scott Bauhs (Chico St) 05/04/08
27:55.2 John Treacy’ (Prov) 04/27/78
27:55.86 Josh Rohatinsky (BYU) 04/29/07
.............................................
U.S. Additions:
27:59.43 Craig Virgin (Il) 06/22/76
27:59.72 Ian Dobson (Stan) 05/01/05
28:04.46 Tim Nelson (Wi) 04/29/07
28:06.12 Alberto Salazar (Or) 06/01/79
28:08.12 Brad Hauser (Stan) 05/07/99
28:09.40 Shannon Butler (MtSt) 06/25/91
#4 American Collegian Ever
|
Scotty’s Lap Splits in case anyone is interested:
69
69
67.7
66.6 (4:32)
65.7
66.6
67.3
66.0 (8:58, 4:26)
66.8
67.4
66.2
66.6 (13:25, 4:26)
66.1
67.1
65.7
66.5 (17:51, 4:25)
67.1
67.0
67.4
66.7 (22:19, 4:28)
65.2
66.2
67.7
66.5 (26:45, 4:26)
62.6 (27:48)
5k splits: 13:59.7/13:48.4
1K splits: 2:52.6 - 2:45.4 - 2:48.5 - 2:45.6 - 2:47.6
2:44.1 - 2:48.6 - 2:46.1 - 2:47.2 - 2:43.4
|
|
| In the thick of it in the fourth or fifth mile. Note: #79 Guenther Weidlinger Broke the National Austrian record for 10k on Sunday. He’s also the guy who smashed into the steeple barrier at last Summer’s World Championships. For those who saw the footage of that accident, it’s great that he’s back running well again.
|
|
|
Scott’s reaction after hearing the official time from the meet announcer
|
|
| |