June 25, 2011
EUGENE, Ore. - UC Davis freshman Nathan Strum placed fifth with a time of one minute, 51.40 seconds in the junior men's 800-meter final heat during the USATF Outdoor Track & Field Championships at University of Oregon's Hayward Field early Saturday evening.
A a native of San Jose, Calif. and a graduate of Pioneer High School, Strum advanced to Saturday's final by virtue of his 1:52.48 effort in Friday's preliminary heats. He placed eighth among the three heats, holding the second-fastest at-large time in the field.
Strum was the only current Aggie competing at the USATF meet in Eugene. However, assistant coach and former Aggie distance standout Kim Conley finished 10th in the senior women's 5,000 with a time of 15:38.13 on Friday evening. She set a school-record 16:19.51 in that event during her senior year of 2009.
"The USATF Championships experience provides a great stage not only for high-level performances but also some valuable learning opportunities," said UC Davis cross country and distances coach Drew Wartenburg. "Bringing home USATF Junior All-American honors and a top-ten senior finish represents the measure of Aggie track and field in fine form."
Immanuel Hutchison, an unattached runner from San Jacinto High School, won the race at 1:48.56. Derrick Daigre, also competing unattached, finished second with a 1:50.05. Both will represent the U.S. at the Pan American Championships in July. Strum trailed the pack at the midway point in the race, posting a 400-meter split of 54.92. He made a strong move on the outside with less than 100 meters remaining to cross the finish line in fifth.
Strum currently ranks third in school 800 history with a collegiate best of 1:50.19, which earned him a third-place finish at the Big West Conference meet in May. He has broken the 1:50 barrier on two other occasions, hitting 1:50.74 at the Mondo Mid-Major on April 9, then improving to 1:50.42 at the Brutus Hamilton Invitational two weeks later.
2011 USATF OUTDOOR TRACK & FIELD CHAMPIONSHIPS
Hayward Field - University of Oregon
Eugene, Ore.
UC Davis results only.
JUNIOR MEN'S 800 - 1. Immanuel Hutchison, unattached, 1:48.56... 5. Nathan Strum, 1:51.40.
