AOTW: Freshman Tops NCAA Regional Qualifying Time

When freshman Dan Chenoweth finished the 5000m run in 14:07.34 at last weekend’s Sam Howell Invitational in Princeton, N.J., it came as little surprise to those around him.

“I just really feel like this is just another step along the way for Dan,” Harvard coach Jason Saretsky said.

But 14:07 is no small feat, especially this early in the season.

While most student-athletes use these early meets to hone their skills and build up to the post-season, Chenoweth’s finish on Friday decimated the competition as well as the NCAA Regional qualification time.

The NCAA Regional time at the Weaver Track & Field Stadium was set at 14:12.00.

The Wigglesworth resident made easy work of that, finishing with nearly four and a half seconds to spare.

The second place finisher in the event, Princeton’s Frank Tinney, completed the run in 14:11.74.

However, this was not the first time Chenoweth has made his strength known this year.

Because of Chenoweth’s earlier accomplishements and his determination to succeed, his teammates anticipated that the fast time he achieved at Friday’s race would come sooner rather than later.

“Obviously you can’t predict something like that,” men’s co-captain Brian Holmquest said.

“But running 14:07 is right in the line with everything else he’s doing this season. It was a race I expected him to run on Friday.”

During the winter indoor season, Chenoweth finished the 3000m run at the IC4A Championships in 8:04.72, putting him second in the nation among true freshmen and third among all freshmen that season.

The time also placed him solidly in the Harvard history books—third in the 3K.

And last week, at the Victor Lopez Bayou Classic in Houston, Chenoweth finished first in the 1500m among collegians—and secured second overall—with his personal best time of 3:49.87.

Chenoweth’s Houston mark was enough to qualify him for the IC4A Championships, which will send the freshman back to Weaver Stadium to build upon his 14:07 time.

But what makes the Geneseo, Ill. native’s accomplishment all the more impressive is that Friday’s 5K was his first collegiate outdoor 5K.

“He was able to go out there and have a positive experience for his first time,” Holmquest said. “It was a really good race.”

With this NCAA Regional qualification, Chenoweth lands himself in good company.

Classmate Jessica Fronk’s breakthrough javelin toss at the Texas Southern Relays earned her a spot, and junior Becky Christensen claimed her third regional qualification by clearing 1.75m in the high jump at the Texas meet.

Now with his regional qualification behind him, Chenoweth can rest easy.

“He can be a little more flexible with the rest of the year,” Holmquest said.

With four more meets left in the regular season before the outdoor Heptagonals, Chenoweth has plenty of time to shave off seconds in either the 1500m or the 5000m to potentially make a bid for the National Championships.

And this has all come in just his first year.

Saretsky knows that Chenoweth has nowhere to go but up.

According to Saretsky, Chenoweth’s showing on Friday puts him in a good position to lead the league in the near future.

“He’s one of those athletes that just gets it,” Saretsky said.

And if all goes according to plan, Chenoweth could be close to getting more than just “it,” perhaps notching one or more championship victories.

—Staff writer Dixon McPhillips can be reached at fmcphill@fas.harvard.edu.