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With one special lap, Colin Sahlman made his last collegiate race one for the ages.
The Northern Arizona University senior and former Newbury Park High star unleashed his signature kick to move from last place in the nine-man field to first down the homestretch, clinching the men’s 800-meter title with a time of 1 minute, 44.22 seconds, at the NCAA Outdoor Track & Field Championships on Friday, June 12.
“The only thing I remember is putting my head down and just going,” Sahlman told reporters after the victory. “I looked up with like 20 meters to go, thought I could get it and tried to get my arm out across first. The only thought going through my mind was, ‘Go, go, go.’ ”
Sahlman’s victory marked the sixth-fastest time ever in the NCAA outdoors and was the first national title in the 800 meters in program history for NAU.
Before dominating the college running scene, Sahlman was The Star's Boys Track and Field Athlete of the Year in 2022.
The versatile distance star, who holds the NCAA record indoors (1:44.70), followed the same blueprint that helped him advance out of his preliminary round. Sahlman dropped to the back of the pack in the opening moments of the race before storming to the front on the final curve.
“I always keep faith, no matter how far away they may seem,” Sahlman said of taking on 800-meter specialists in the race. “These pure 800 guys, even if they look untouchable, they come back pretty hard. I was just keeping faith in myself and praying to God all day that he could give me strength to do this.”
Sahlman won the first national title of his college career amid controversy in the 3,000 meters indoors this winter, as initial winner Habtom Samuel of New Mexico was subsequently disqualified for illegal contact during a three-man sprint to the finish.
At the same indoor championships, he ran the 1,600-meter anchor leg of the NAU national championship distance medley relay team indoors.
“This is much more fulfilling,” Sahlman said. “I crossed the line first this time. It is a really good feeling — a legit national champion. I couldn’t be happier.”
Sahlman announced after the race that, with his NCAA eligibility at an end, he plans to pursue professional running and will contact brands and teams this coming week.
“This is it,” Sahlman said. “Last race as a Lumberjack. Really excited I could come away and bring home a national title to NAU.”
Dominic Massimino is a staff writer for The Star. He can be reached at [email protected]. For more coverage, follow @vcsdominic on Twitter and Instagram.
This article originally appeared on Ventura County Star: Newbury Park graduate wins NCAA 800-meter title with final-lap push
Continue reading...
The Northern Arizona University senior and former Newbury Park High star unleashed his signature kick to move from last place in the nine-man field to first down the homestretch, clinching the men’s 800-meter title with a time of 1 minute, 44.22 seconds, at the NCAA Outdoor Track & Field Championships on Friday, June 12.
“The only thing I remember is putting my head down and just going,” Sahlman told reporters after the victory. “I looked up with like 20 meters to go, thought I could get it and tried to get my arm out across first. The only thought going through my mind was, ‘Go, go, go.’ ”
Sahlman’s victory marked the sixth-fastest time ever in the NCAA outdoors and was the first national title in the 800 meters in program history for NAU.
Before dominating the college running scene, Sahlman was The Star's Boys Track and Field Athlete of the Year in 2022.
The versatile distance star, who holds the NCAA record indoors (1:44.70), followed the same blueprint that helped him advance out of his preliminary round. Sahlman dropped to the back of the pack in the opening moments of the race before storming to the front on the final curve.
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“I always keep faith, no matter how far away they may seem,” Sahlman said of taking on 800-meter specialists in the race. “These pure 800 guys, even if they look untouchable, they come back pretty hard. I was just keeping faith in myself and praying to God all day that he could give me strength to do this.”
Sahlman won the first national title of his college career amid controversy in the 3,000 meters indoors this winter, as initial winner Habtom Samuel of New Mexico was subsequently disqualified for illegal contact during a three-man sprint to the finish.
At the same indoor championships, he ran the 1,600-meter anchor leg of the NAU national championship distance medley relay team indoors.
“This is much more fulfilling,” Sahlman said. “I crossed the line first this time. It is a really good feeling — a legit national champion. I couldn’t be happier.”
Sahlman announced after the race that, with his NCAA eligibility at an end, he plans to pursue professional running and will contact brands and teams this coming week.
“This is it,” Sahlman said. “Last race as a Lumberjack. Really excited I could come away and bring home a national title to NAU.”
Dominic Massimino is a staff writer for The Star. He can be reached at [email protected]. For more coverage, follow @vcsdominic on Twitter and Instagram.
This article originally appeared on Ventura County Star: Newbury Park graduate wins NCAA 800-meter title with final-lap push
Continue reading...
