2017 Bison Outdoor ClassicApr 13, 2017 by Johanna Gretschel
Bison Classic: Gerlach, Harris, Creese & More!
Bison Classic: Gerlach, Harris, Creese & More!
2017 Bison Outdoor Classic meet preview at Bucknell University in Lewisburg, Pennsylvania.
It's going to be the Penn State show at the Bison Outdoor Classic in Lewisburg, Pa. this weekend, a mid-season test for northeastern athletes to chase quick times against top regional competition in NCAA DI, DII and DIII. Tune in here to watch the action live on FloTrack this Friday and Saturday! View the schedule here, entries here and read on below for our picks on the meet's top races.
Who: Tori Gerlach
When: Friday, 5:30 PM ET
Why: Fifth-year senior Tori Gerlach of Penn State is a steeplechaser, but hasn't raced her specialty event in two years due to injury. In 2015, she set her PB at 9:53.98 and was runner-up at the Big 10 Outdoor Championships. Gerlach opened her final season of college eligibility with a 4:25.63 1500m win at the Pac 12 vs. Big 10 Invitational, just three seconds off her PB, and a 16:30.67 5K at Stanford. Bison will be an interesting rust-buster for the star, who told us in January that her biggest goal this season is to win the Big 10 title in the steeple. She's been runner-up at conference three times in different events (3K SC, indoor 5K, indoor 3K).
We caught up with Gerlach at the Nittany Lion Challenge in January:
Who: Robby Creese, Isaiah Harris, Domenic Perretta, Jaxson Hoey
When: Friday, 8:35 PM ET
Why: The PSU men's 800m crew goes up in distance this weekend, led by 2016 grad Robby Creese, who set his 3:39.02 PB in 2015. True sophomore Isaiah Harris is the speediest of the bunch; the three-time Big 10 800m champion who took sixth in the Olympic Trials recently won the Florida Relays in a blistering 1:45.64, a new PB and current NCAA leader. He also recently ran his first-ever collegiate 1500m, a 3:50.06 to take second at LSU's Battle on the Bayou. True freshmen Domenic Perretta (1:48 800m PB) and Jaxson Hoey (4:11 high school miler) are blue chip recruits ahead of their debut collegiate 1500m. I think it's safe to assume that the purpose of this race is to get a quick regional qualifier.
Watch Isaiah Harris set the 600m collegiate record in January at Penn State National:
Who: Amy Regan, Taryn Cordani
When: Friday, 8:50 PM ET
Why: Amy Regan is one of the most dominant runners in NCAA DIII history. The Stevens Institute senior is a six-time national champion in cross country, indoor and outdoor track. Last year, she swept the 3K and 5K at both the indoor and outdoor championships. What makes this race interesting is Taryn Cordani of Ithaca. Regan redshirted the indoor season and Cordani, a junior, swept the 3K and 5K in her absence. Both athletes were heartbreakingly close to the NCAA DIII record for 5K indoors -- Christy Cazzola's record is 16:21.49, Regan ran 16:23.4 in 2016 and Cordani ran 16:28.15 this year. Outdoors, the record is a much tougher to crack 15:37.48, set by Missy Buttry in 2003, but even so -- this race should be a thrilling preview of the NCAA DIII Outdoor Championships final.
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Video footage from the competition will be archived and stored in a video library for FloPRO subscribers to watch for the duration of their subscription.
Women's Invitational 3K Steeple
Who: Tori Gerlach
When: Friday, 5:30 PM ET
Why: Fifth-year senior Tori Gerlach of Penn State is a steeplechaser, but hasn't raced her specialty event in two years due to injury. In 2015, she set her PB at 9:53.98 and was runner-up at the Big 10 Outdoor Championships. Gerlach opened her final season of college eligibility with a 4:25.63 1500m win at the Pac 12 vs. Big 10 Invitational, just three seconds off her PB, and a 16:30.67 5K at Stanford. Bison will be an interesting rust-buster for the star, who told us in January that her biggest goal this season is to win the Big 10 title in the steeple. She's been runner-up at conference three times in different events (3K SC, indoor 5K, indoor 3K).
We caught up with Gerlach at the Nittany Lion Challenge in January:
Men's Invitational 1500m
Who: Robby Creese, Isaiah Harris, Domenic Perretta, Jaxson Hoey
When: Friday, 8:35 PM ET
Why: The PSU men's 800m crew goes up in distance this weekend, led by 2016 grad Robby Creese, who set his 3:39.02 PB in 2015. True sophomore Isaiah Harris is the speediest of the bunch; the three-time Big 10 800m champion who took sixth in the Olympic Trials recently won the Florida Relays in a blistering 1:45.64, a new PB and current NCAA leader. He also recently ran his first-ever collegiate 1500m, a 3:50.06 to take second at LSU's Battle on the Bayou. True freshmen Domenic Perretta (1:48 800m PB) and Jaxson Hoey (4:11 high school miler) are blue chip recruits ahead of their debut collegiate 1500m. I think it's safe to assume that the purpose of this race is to get a quick regional qualifier.
Watch Isaiah Harris set the 600m collegiate record in January at Penn State National:
Women's Invitational 5K
Who: Amy Regan, Taryn Cordani
When: Friday, 8:50 PM ET
Why: Amy Regan is one of the most dominant runners in NCAA DIII history. The Stevens Institute senior is a six-time national champion in cross country, indoor and outdoor track. Last year, she swept the 3K and 5K at both the indoor and outdoor championships. What makes this race interesting is Taryn Cordani of Ithaca. Regan redshirted the indoor season and Cordani, a junior, swept the 3K and 5K in her absence. Both athletes were heartbreakingly close to the NCAA DIII record for 5K indoors -- Christy Cazzola's record is 16:21.49, Regan ran 16:23.4 in 2016 and Cordani ran 16:28.15 this year. Outdoors, the record is a much tougher to crack 15:37.48, set by Missy Buttry in 2003, but even so -- this race should be a thrilling preview of the NCAA DIII Outdoor Championships final.
How To Watch
ON TV: Now available on Roku and Apple TV 4 -- download the FloSports app today!
STREAMING: Available only on FloTrack. SIGN UP HERE
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• Follow us on Twitter @FloTrack
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Archived Competition Footage
Video footage from the competition will be archived and stored in a video library for FloPRO subscribers to watch for the duration of their subscription.