CHARLOTTE, N.C.- Michael Crouch (Yucca Valley, Calif., Yucca Valley) took the lead with 600-meters to go in the 5,000-meter finals of the 2010 NCAA Track & Field Championships but was edged at the line by #1 seed Amos Sang of Abilene Christian. Crouch took control of the modest pace late in the race finishing with a 57.0 400-meters and 4:12 last 1600-meters, but Sang, who ran away from the 10,000-meter field for the win on the first day of the meet, was able to reel Crouch in over the final 50-meters winning 14:04.94 to 14:05.93. Crouch earned eight points for team scoring, however, and his fourth All-American honors.
Earlier in the day, sophomore Simon Stuetzel (Meinborn, Germany) earned his first All-American award with his sixth place finish in the 1500-meters finishing in 3:49.33 passing Adams State's Keegan Calmes with a dive at the line. Stuetzel posted three points for the Royals.
Combined the duo amassed 11 points putting the Royals into 23 place in team scoring after not being ranked prior to the championships.
Click here to view an interview of Crouch.
Men's 5,000-meter Finals
1 Amos Sang JR Abilene Christian 14:04.94 10
2 Michael Crouch JR Queens (N.C.) 14:05.93 8
3 Reuben Mwei SR Adams State 14:11.09 6
4 Daniel Kirwa JR Harding 14:12.89 5
5 Ruben Sanca SR Umass Lowell 14:14.36 4
6 Marko Cheseto JR Alaska Anchorage 14:15.12 3
7 Luke Cragg SR Adams State 14:24.58 2
8 Philip Biwott SO Harding 14:24.85 1
9 Jordan Welling JR Western Washington 14:25.11
10 Chris Reed JR Western Oregon 14:35.35
11 Edwin Cruz SO Adams State 14:37.26
12 Jimmy Elam SR Chico State 14:38.14
13 Ben Zywicki JR Colorado Mines 14:39.45
14 Brent Handa JR Chico State 14:52.74
15 Florian Theophile SR Adams State 15:12.21
16 Alfred Kangogo SO Alaska Anchorage 15:16.00
Men's 1,500-meter Finals
1 Mack McLain SO Colorado Mines 3:46.33 10
2 Michael Wickman SR Chico State 3:46.57 8
3 Ryan McNiff JR Adams State 3:47.10 6
4 Andrew Graham SO Adams State 3:47.65 5
5 Brennan Benkert SR Missouri Southern 3:47.76 4
6 Simon Stuetzel SO Queens (N.C.) 3:49.33 3
7 Keegan Calmes FR Adams State 3:49.47 2
8 Alfred Kangogo SO Alaska Anchorage 3:49.65 1
9 Ben Zywicki JR Colorado Mines 3:49.74
10 Dean Huffer SR Adams State 3:50.73
11 Rick Bogatay SR Metropolitan St. 3:52.99
12 Patrick Fullerton JR Stonehill 3:54.16