SEATTLE, Wash./FLAGSTAFF, Ariz. - Jan. 28 - Southern Utah's
Cameron Levins ranks first in the world in the 3,000-meters after bringing home
his second win of the weekend with a time of 7:48.25 at the UW Invitational.
Levins will represent the T-Birds in both the 3,000-meters and 5,000-meters at
the NCAA national championship.
"The country is buzzing with what Cam has done," head coach
Eric Houle said. "We've had a great weekend with new personal records set by
the athletes in both venues."
Levins improved the top Southern Utah record, set by Curtis
Moore in 1999, by more than 26 seconds, also setting a new meet record for the
University of Washington. His 5,000-meter time of 13:42.90 ranks second in the NCAA
Division I and sets a new top record for Southern Utah.
Distance runners Austin West and Nate Jewkes also
represented Southern Utah in Seattle. Jewkes finished sixth in the 5,000-meters
with a time of 14:21.42, a personal best that ranks second in the Summit League
and improves his previous third-place school records. West finished eighth in
the 5,000-meters with a time of 14:32.18, ranking third in the conference and
fifth in the school record books.
The Thunderbirds also competed in NAU's Mountain T
Invitational, where sprinter Shaun Murray made his mark in the Summit League
and in SUU's records. Murray finished fourth in the 200-meter dash with a time
of 22.07, and sixth in the 60-meter dash with a time of 6.94. Both times rank
third in the conference, while his 200-meter time also ranks third in the
school records.
The distance team also set several personal records in
Flagstaff including John Hart (4:16.94) and Devan Antczak (4:27.47) in the mile
and Ryan Barrus (8:30.55) in the 3,000-meters. Barrus' 3,000-meters time
currently ranks sixth in the Summit League, while Hart's and Antczak's mile
times rank ninth and 10th respectively.
The men will now prepare for the New Mexico Classic, which
will take place on Feb. 3-4 in Albuquerque, N.M. , and the NAU Open, scheduled
for Feb. 4 in Flagstaff, Ariz. The distance team will also focus on the
Mountain State Games on Feb. 3-4, hosted by Idaho State in Pocatello, Idaho.
Watch Levins' post 3,000-meters interview on Flotrack here.
The Flagstaff times have been adjusted for altitude.
