First Thoughts: Return to the Indoor Oval

We have race results to analyze! Despite most indoor track meets not starting up until next week, fans of the sport were still treated to a handful of meets and some interesting results this past Saturday.

While none of these meet produced any Earth-shattering marks in the distance events, they did give us something to talk about. So, naturally, we’re taking full advantage of that and offering some analysis below...

When it comes to the distance events, this could be argued as the race of the weekend. The Golden Gophers and Hawkeyes collectively put seven men under the 4:10 mile barrier on Saturday. That’s a surprisingly deep mile field when you consider that competition has been scarce, it’s the start of the season and only two teams were racing.

The veteran Minnesota duo of Alec Basten and Owen Hoeft went 1-2 (respectively), each securing a pair of 4:03 mile personal bests in their season debut. Those are two very encouraging times for Basten and Hoeft as both men have historically been considered longer distance runners, focusing on the 3000 meters and higher.

Could the recent development of their middle distance speed benefit them in the long-term when it comes to tactical races in the 3k or 5k? Maybe, but that could also just be us getting too excited about seeing results again.

Still, a 4:03 mile PR is nothing to scoff at and it deserves plenty of respect. Both Basten and Hoeft took big steps in the right direction this past weekend.

As we go further down the list of Minnesota runners, we saw future Boise State runner Hunter Lucas finish in 3rd (4:06), freshman Eli Hoeft finish in 5th (4:06) and future Portland State runner Jordan MacIntosh finish in 7th (4:07).

That’s a solid contingent of milers, especially when you look at the younger Hoeft brother. Unfortunately, many of these milers will soon leave the program as the University of Minnesota ultimately axed their men’s indoor track program a few months ago.

If the Golden Gophers were looking to make a statement this winter season after the university their men’s indoor track program starting next year, then they certainly got off to a good start this past weekend.

We also need to talk about the Iowa men who had two milers of their own crack the 4:10 barrier. Freshman Max Murphy surprised us a bit with his 4th pace finish, securing a time of 4:06. Veteran teammate Jeff Roberts was a couple seconds behind with a time of 4:08.

Overall, there isn’t a ton to talk about, but the Hawkeyes have to be encouraged that they have a rookie like Murphy who is posting promising results in his first official collegiate indoor track race. With many of the BIG 10’s top distance talents nearing the end of their eligibility, both Murphy and the younger Hoeft brother could be two key names to watch in a few years time.

Minnesota ace Bethany Hasz got off to a great start this past weekend as she led her teammates in the 3000 meters with a strong time of 9:24. Admittedly, she has run much faster than that and a 9:24 isn’t exactly jaw-dropping. Even so, it’s a respectable time and a nice start to the season for a top-ranked talent like Hasz who is currently listed at TSR #15 in our women’s indoor track rankings.

Teammates Anastasia Korzenowski (9:44), Bit Klecker (9:55) and Tate Sweeney (9:58) also ran under 10 minutes for the 3000 meters in their season debut.

We should also note that Megan Hasz, a 15:39 (5k) runner, didn’t have her best day, running a time of 10:03 (3k) to finish 6th overall. Was it an ideal result? No, but it’s certainly an understandable one.

Hasz was already racing on a very limited basis even before the pandemic struck. Following the 2019 outdoor track season, both of the Hasz twins were redshirted for the ensuing cross country season (where they raced unattached once or twice). Megan then toed the line for an indoor 5k in Boston where she ran a new personal best...and was then sidelined for the rest of the 2020 indoor season with a rumored (but unconfirmed) injury.

Before this weekend, Megan Hasz had only run in a Minnesota singlet once over the past 19 months. It’s entirely understandable if she needs more time to shake off the rust after such minimal racing.

Not only that, but the Golden Gophers may be gearing their focus for the 2021 winter cross country season. After all, the BIG 10 XC Championships are scheduled to be run on January 30th.

Despite last year’s indoor track results suggesting that Andrea Foster was a senior (via TFRRS), the Clemson middle distance specialist continued to don orange and purple this past weekend. Foster made her season debut in the 600 meters with teammate Laurie Barton (TSR #11).

Seeing Clemson bring back both Barton and Foster means that every woman from last year’s ACC indoor 800 meter final is set to return to competition this winter. That was a race that Barton and Foster swept last year.

Certain ACC talents like Aleeya Hutchins (Wake Forest) and Kayla Johnson (Miami, FL) are accomplished enough to compete with the Clemson duo whenever the ACC conference meet rolls around. However, for the moment, it appears that we are primed for another 1-2 finish by the Tigers in the women’s ACC indoor 800 meters later this season.