Clovis, Calif.----- San Jose State University senior Craig Huff took control of the 3000 steeplechase midway through the race and became the Spartans' first individual outdoor track and field conference champion since 1985 at the Mountain West Championships.
Huff posted a winning time of 8:48.02, just shy of his career best of 8:47.52 recorded earlier in the season at the Stanford Invitational.
"It's an unbelievable feeling. Nothing like I've ever felt before," said the computer science major and a 2019 San Jose State University Dean's Scholar during a post-race interview on FloTrack. "It (the win) shows San Jose State is here to compete. We're 'Speed City' and we're ready to compete."
Huff took control of the race about the halfway mark and was not seriously challenged the rest of the way. He finished almost three seconds ahead of second-place finisher Trevor Siniscalchi of Air Force who crossed the finish line in a time of 8:50.92.
"It was a long road to get here and I did what I needed to do."
EXECUTING A GAME PLAN
"He executed his game plan. It was perfect," said San Jose State distance coach Brad Wick. "He played it safe the first few laps and then with three laps to go, he got a little bit quicker each lap. After the mile mark, he gapped the field by a little bit and then kept the pedal to the metal, put the gas on and tried to run away from the pack.
"Unlike other races, the steeple has the barriers and water pit at the end. You can't light it up with a crazy last lap because of the obstacles in the way," Wick concluded.
"Going into the race, I knew I would have to take it out from the (starting) gun. And separate the pack. I wasn't going to go out slow like the last three years and then kick. I was going for the win from the start," Huff said about his pre-race strategy.
"The Wyoming runner who was in the lead was slowly down a little bit. So, with a mile to go, that's where I decided to make my move. If anyone was going to go with me and pass me, they would have to work harder than me."
The last time a San Jose State athlete won a conference outdoor track and field championship event was in 1985 when sprinter Craig Armstrong won the 200 and 400 meter dashes and Danny Gonzalez crossed the finish line first in the 10,000 meters.
Huff joins Wayne Hurst, the 1973 Pacific Coast Athletic Association (PCAA/now Big West) champion, as the two Spartans to win a steeplechase at a conference meet.
MORE HIGHLIGHTS
Besides Huff, sprinters Dominic Tanner and Aidan Jardon turned in personal bests in the 400 meters and qualified for the May 11 final in the event. Tanner turned in a 49.11 and Jardon picked up the ninth and final qualifying spot with a 49.29.
Huff's victory lifted San Jose State to a sixth place tie with Boise State. Both schools have 10 points. Colorado State leads the team scoring with 85.
The three-day meet concludes on Saturday, May 11.
San Jose State University Men's Track & Field
Mountain West Outdoor Track & Field Championships
Clovis, Calif.
May 10, 2019
Days 1 & 2 results
Team scores – 1, Colorado State, 85; 2, Utah State, 65; 3, Wyoming, 44; 4, Air Force, 28; 5, New Mexico, 27; 6, tie, San Jose State, Boise State, 10; 8, Fresno State, 3.
10,000 meters – 1, Eric Hamer, Colorado State, 30:34.86 – San Jose State entry – 15, Huruy Zeratsion – 32:21.53.
Long Jump – 1, Tanner Battikha, New Mexico, 7.44m. San Jose State entry – 17, Richard Dang, 5.71m (18-9.00).
100 meters (17 entries) - 1, Bryce Kirby, Boise State, 10.49. San Jose State entries – 16, Brendan Manigo, 11.27. 17, Michael Harris III, 11.40.
400 intermediate hurdles preliminaries (13 entries) – 1, Germain Barnes, Colorado State, 52.86. San Jose State entry – 13, Matthew Porter, 1:03.21.
800 meters preliminaries (13 entries) – 1, Preston Roche, Air Force, 1:51.62. San Jose State entries – 12, Peter Handy, 1:57.08; 13, Jeffrey Page, 2:00.12.
200 meters preliminaries (21 entries) – 1, Terrell Bradford, Air Force, 21.25. San Jose State entries – 15, Brendan Manigo, 22.63. 19, Michael Harris III, 23.15. 20, Cannon Yates, 23.81.
400 meter preliminaries (16 entries, top nine advance to final) – 1, Sedacy Walden, Air Force, 47.71. San Jose State entries – 8, Dominic Tanner, 49.11; 9, Aidan Jardon, 49.29; 14, Mikael Tyler, 51.30; 16, Cannon Yates, 51.59.
3000 steeplechase (10 entries) – 1, Craig Huff, San Jose State, 8:48.02. 2, Trevor Siniscalchi, Air Force, 8:50.92. 3, Stokton Smith, Utah State, 8:54.99.
