In the Blink of an Eye...

A human blinks in .14 seconds.  Junior Amanda Mergaert ran a huge lifetime best in the biggest race of the year, but came up the blink of an eye short of making the 1500 final at the NCAA Championships.  Last year she finished 14th and missed the final by .24.  This she ran five seconds faster than a year ago, but the result in regards to final placing and advancement are the same.  Fourteenth, Second Team All American, missed final by .15 seconds.

It was one of the performances in Utah school history.  Amanda ran with the lead pack of nine throughout the race making effortless moves, while allowing the pack to do the work.  After a quick, but fair pace of 2:18 through 800m it was a charge to the finish.  Amanda ran the next 400m in 67.7 and then finished the final 300m in a blistering 48 seconds.  With about 350m to go the lead pack was able to get a couple steps on Amanda, however she responded with 250m to go and caught back up to the group coming down the homestretch passing two runners to finish seventh in the heat only .33 seconds behind the sixth place runner.  However, when all the results were compiled she came up just shy of making the top 12 and advancing to Saturday's final.

It was a finish filled with mixed emotions.  A huge life time PR and school record by three seconds, but to come up just shy of advancing for the second straight year will sting a bit.  Her time was also only .7 seconds from the Olympic Trials A standard.  So imagine half your face smiling and the other half a mixture of disappointment/madness.

As a coach I can't really ask for anything more than running the fastest you've ever run in the most important race of the year.  However, I can appreciate the disappointment my athletes feel when they want and expect more and just miss it.  It was another huge day of learning and growing for Amanda.  She has enjoyed a ton of success especially in the bigger meets.  I have no doubt she'll do what she has done for three years and use this experience to further her ability and fuel her desire.

Don't forget that today we have senior Bree LeRoy closing out her outstanding career as she takes part in the women's high jump final at 4:30 local time.  This is her first appearance at this meet.  Bree was our first ever outdoor track and field All Pac-12 performer a month ago after finishing third in this event.