NCAA Championships: Justyn Knight takes 2nd in 5K, Aidan Tooker 4th in steeplechase

As the rain fell on the third day of the outdoor NCAA Division I Championships in Eugene, Oregon, Syracuse runners had a strong showing despite not taking home any championship hardware. Justyn Knight, in the final race of his SU career, placed second in the men’s 5000-meters with a time of 13:55.03. Philo Germano, also racing his last collegiate race, placed 14th.

In the men’s 3000-meter steeplechase, sophomore Aidan Tooker broke a ten-year-old SU record by almost three seconds to take fourth place with a time of 8:35.41. Freshman Noah Affolder came across ninth.

While Germano faded to the back early in the 5K, Knight hung around 10th place until there were four laps to go. By the last lap, Knight had made his way to fourth, challenging for second and third with a huge final push. While Stanford’s Sean McGorty crossed the line in first, Knight edged out Stanford’s Grant Fisher, the defending champion of the race, for third by .01 seconds.

In the 3000-meter steeplechase, Tooker started out in the back with Affolder before shooting up to fifth by lap three. On the the final lap, Houston’s Brian Barraza, who had pulled away early with a large lead, tripped over the first hurdle. Tooker took advantage and finished strong to earn fourth while Minnesota’s Obsa Ali cruised to the national title with a time of 8:32.23.

Tomorrow at 6:54 p.m. ET Paige Stoner will run Syracuse’s last race of this year’s NCAA Championships in the women’s 3000-meter steeplechase final.