AUSTIN, Texas — Gunning for his second national championship of the calendar year, Yared Nuguse came out blazing in the men’s 1,500m finals at Friday’s NCAA Outdoor Track and Field Championships.
“Yared represents everything that Notre Dame and our team are,” assistant coach Sean Carlson said. “It is fitting that he now holds the 1,500 national title. I couldn’t be more proud of who he is as a student, person and student-athlete. We are building champions here through more than just athletics.”
Nuguse got off to a fast start in the race, jumping to the front of the pack before working his way into first with two laps remaining. Heading into the final 250m, Nuguse fell a few spots as his competition started their final kick. Not one to falter, he hit his stride in the final straightaway to edge Michigan State’s Justine Kiprotich by 0.003 seconds at the line.
YARED NUGUSE WITH THE LEAN AND THE WIN!!!! pic.twitter.com/AJ8KeHj6cW
— NCAA Track & Field (@NCAATrackField) June 8, 2019
Nuguse entered the NCAA Championships as the East Region leader and third-ranked in the nation following a personal best run at the Bryan Clay Invitational in April. His season accolades also include a 1,500m ACC Championship and First-Team All-ACC honors.
The sophomore out of Louisville, Kentucky, secured his first national title earlier this year with an NCAA Indoor title as the anchor leg in the men’s DMR. Chasing down the eventual runner-up in the final stretch, the comeback victory is nothing new for Nuguse.
He becomes the first individual Irish man to top the Outdoor Championships podium in nearly two decades, following in the footsteps of the late Ryan Shay who won the men’s 10K in 2000.