Ben Flanagan of Michigan Track wins an NCAA National Championship
An unbelievable race in the 10,000M National Championship race at the NCAA Championships in Eugene just now.
Ben Flanagan hung around the entire race, got as high as second and on the home stretch kick sniped the lead to win the National Championship with a time of 28:34.53.
He is the 3rd-ever 10,000M National Champion in program history and is the first since 1989.
Congratulations to Mr. Flanagan!!! Way to represent the Maize and Blue!
Congratulations to Mr. Flanagan!!! Way to represent the Maize and Blue!
Congratulations to Mr. Flanagan!!! Way to represent the Maize and Blue!
I just saw the race on ESPN when flipping from the NBA Finals. Michigan's track program should only get better now that they have the facilities.
Hail to the Victor!
Here's a video of the last 20 seconds of the race.
https://twitter.com/NCAATrackField/status/1004556546515169281
Thank you! I was watching the first 5k of this last night, then switched over to check on the Warriors/Cavs and forgot to switch back. Was really annoyed I didn't get to see the end when I saw this posted.
Best part about this is that he only has enough energy to look surprised. He's basically looking around asking, "DID I REALLY DO THAT OR DID I PASS OUT SERIOUSLY I DON'T KNOW WHAT IS REAL RIGHT NOW."
End of race video embedded - he must have started his day with Little Chocolate Donuts...
JK - Great job, Ben Flanagan - Michigan Man and National Champion!
i think this is the only way you could get me to run 10,000 meters.
Congratulations, Mr. Flanagan! Go Blue!
Nice Job Ben!
I like it when Michigan students win national championships
Major kudos to Mr. Flanagan
28:34!! wow That's an incredible 4:36/mile pace!! I couldn't run a 5 min mile if I wanted to right now.
I'd venture to guess that a vast majority of this blog couldn't run 200 meters at that pace.
That makes me feel better :) I did an Ironman not that long ago so I consider myself reasonably athletic but then you watch the real athletes... it's humbling for sure.
Yeah it's pretty wild. I'm probably in ~36 minute 10k shape right now which requires pretty consistent work, and these guys blow that away by a ton with ease. Track is a great sport to watch because you can so easily understand the level that these athletes are at by just going out to a track and running 400 meters all out, then comparing that time to what people run at long distances, even the marathon.
You'd be fast too if you grew up being chased by his brother Walt's dog.
Damn! I'm trying to get my 10k time under 40...this is just wow
Video of the WIN - https://twitter.com/NCAATrackField/status/1004556546515169281/video/1
BEN FLANAGAN WITH THE CRAZY KICK FTW & #ncaaTF 10K ?! pic.twitter.com/agTOqynodF
— NCAA Track & Field (@NCAATrackField) June 7, 2018
LETS GOOOOOO
More on Ben's victory
Upset City! Michigan’s Ben Flanagan Stuns Everyone to Win 10,000m Title
http://www.letsrun.com/news/2018/06/upset-city-michigans-ben-flanagan-stuns-everyone-win-10000m-title/
Shades of Bill Mills in Tokyo.
That's Billy Mills.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5F5iCsymMj0h
I love this kid. Finishes race of his life and says “where’s my mom?” https://t.co/fk7g8gk3in
— Shalane Flanagan (@ShalaneFlanagan) June 7, 2018
Congratulations Ben!! Let's win all the things!
Great job Ben!!! This is great to hear... Go Blue baby!!
Out-freakin'-standing! Go Blue!
Not sure others on here are aware of how shocking this victory was. "Before tonight, Flanagan had never finished higher than 14th in an NCAA final. He did not even qualify for this meet last year, finishing 22nd at the East Regional. And he entered tonight’s race as the 19th seed, with a 29:13.72 pb."
So he had to PR by almost 40 seconds while closing the race with a 56 second lap. Wowzers.
http://www.letsrun.com/news/2018/06/upset-city-michigans-ben-flanagan-stuns-everyone-win-10000m-title/
peaked at the right time.
Will be fun to watch this on the big screen at M Stadium in the fall and listen to 100K folks cheer him on!
Looks like he beat an Alabama runner. Maybe it’s a prelude to January 2019?