Kerr takes third in his run to repeat as champ

EUGENE, Ore. — Josh Kerr had enough in his patented bell-lap kick to get the lead. Unfortunately for the University of New Mexico star runner, it wasn’t enough to get him a win in the event he has owned. In his attempt Friday to repeat as national men’s champion in the 1,500 meters, the junior finished third, exactly a quarter-second behind champion Oliver Hoare of Wisconsin at the NCAA outdoor track and field championships. On a wet track and overcast afternoon, Hoare won in 3 minutes, 44.77 seconds. Virginia Tech’s Vincent Ciattei nosed out Kerr in 3:45.012. Kerr’s official time was 3:45.015 —10 seconds behind his NCAA-record 3:35.01 on April 20. The race opened with little separation among the 12 runners as Kerr was boxed in the near the back of the pack. He eventually moved up to third place two laps into the race and ran wide to start his final kick with 300 meters remaining. Kerr was out front from the inside lane of the homestretch and looked poised to repeat as champion, but Hoare beat him to the finish.. “It was very tactical and very physical,” Kerr said of the race. “There was a tight pack all the way through. There was a lot of clipping and jumping around. It was a tough race to be in.” The third-place finish nonetheless makes Kerr a repeat All-American and gives the UNM men six points. The Lobos are back in action today with Charlotte Prouse running the finals of the women’s 3,000-meter steeplechase and Ednah Kurgat and Weini Kelati running the finals of the 5,000-meter run. Prouse runs at 4:54 p.m. MT, while Kurgat and Kelati compete at 6:25 p.m. MT. The meet airs on ESPN beginning at 5 p.m.