SAN ANGELO, Texas- Queens University of Charlotte’s sophomore Michael Crouch (Yucca Valley, Calif., Yucca Valley ) pushed past defending national champion and 2009 NCAA DII Track Athlete of the Year Aaron Braun of Adams State in the final 100 meters of the NCAA DII National Outdoor Track Championships’ 1500-meter run to earn his second NCAA national title.
Off of a slow earlier pace, Crouch bolted to the lead with 600 meters remaining stringing out the field of twelve with only Braun matching his move. At the bell lap, Braun rushed to the front attempting to distance himself from Crouch who held on behind for the next 200 meters only to move around and pass Braun off of the final turn with 100 to go.
Braun did not back down and the duo battled down the homestretch side by side with Crouch pushing a foot ahead and holding on for an exciting 3:49.83 to 3:49.93 win with a lean at the tape.
Crouch’s final 400 was 54.90 with his last 800 meters at 1:54.50. It was only his second 1500-meter race for the 2009 season, his first being his win in the prelims two days earlier.
With the win Crouch lowered his own Queens University school record and brought home the Royals’ fourth individual NCAA national title in two years.
Crouch’s ten points put Queens tied for 22nd in NCAA national team scoring, while Tanya Zeferjahn’s earlier win in the 10,000-meters helped the Lady Royals to a 25th-place NCAA national team finish. Both athletes earned NCAA All-American honors along with their national title trophies.
Event 26 Men 1500 Meter Run
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Meet Record: # 3:38.91 5/23/1987 Kip Cheruiyot, Mt St Mary's
Name Year School Finals Points
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Finals
1 Michael Crouch So Queens 3:49.83 10
2 Aaron Braun Sr Adams State 3:49.93 8
3 Michael Wickman Jr Cal St Chico 3:50.69 6
4 Ryan McNiff So Adams State 3:52.30 5
5 Mack McLain Fr Colorado/Mines 3:53.15 4
6 Jared McNeil So Tarleton State 3:53.62 3
7 Mujahid Hassaballa Jr Pittsburg State 3:54.07 2
8 Michael Pierce Sr Southwest Baptist 3:54.26 1
9 Denise Mokaya Jr Minn St- Mankato 3:54.93
10 Rick Bogatay Jr Metro St/Denver 3:58.29
11 Anthony Tomsich Jr Western Washington 3:59.20
12 Nathan Newland Jr Metro St/Denver 4:04.21