USTFCCCA News & Notes
By Tyler Mayforth, USTFCCCA April 8, 2022   

(Trying To) Catch Up With The Best From NCAA DIII

We have A LOT of catching up to do.

When we last left off, Ella Baran and Kassie Parker were in the midst of their incredible record-breaking indoor seasons: Baran had just shattered Missy (Buttry) Rock’s longstanding NCAA Division III record in the mile by three seconds at the Dr. Sander Columbia Challenge; Parker had recently come within 0.09 seconds of taking down Rock’s all-time divisional best over 3000 meters in a sensational effort at the Notre Dame-hosted Meyo Invitational in the Hoosier State.

Both Baran and Parker were scheduled to compete the next weekend in big-time invitationals in the 3000 and 5000, respectively: Baran would head to the David Hemery Valentine Invitational in Boston; Parker would venture across the Hawkeye State to race at the Iowa State Classic.

It’s safe to say both of them delivered in big-time ways: Baran covered 15 laps of the lightning-fast oval inside the BU Track & Tennis Center in 9:13.32, which demolished Rock’s 19-year-old standard of 9:20.85; Parker became the first female athlete in NCAA DIII history to dip below the 16-minute barrier in the 5000 with her 15:58.58 effort on the oversized oval in Ames, Iowa.

You’d probably expect them to dominate at the ensuing NCAA DIII Indoor Championships, which they did. Baran and Parker combined for three NCAA titles, 35 points and – what else – one meet record (Parker had a Duhawks’ share of the spoils with two individual titles via the 3000/5000 double and a strong anchor leg on Loras’ runner-up distance medley relay, as well as the aforementioned meet record of 16:15.06 in the 5000, which is No. 2 all-time on record-legal tracks in NCAA DIII history).

Fast forward a few weeks and remove the roof, Parker made her outdoor debut in the top section of the 10,000 at the Stanford Invitational. Parker fixed her eyes on the 19-year-old NCAA DIII record of 33:21.80 set by Mary Proulx in 2003. Twenty-five laps and 33:03.61 later, Parker stood alone at the top of yet another all-time chart. Not only that, but Parker finished fourth in the race, ahead of several NCAA DI athletes who already earned several All-America honors this academic year in cross country and indoor track & field. Don’t forget that Parker won the individual title at the NCAA DIII Cross Country Championships back in November.

If the indoor season proved anything, it’s that records can fall in bunches.

Here are several other events that could see new record-holders:

  • Men’s 1500 Meters
    • Current Record: 3:41.21 (Kark Paranya, 1996)
    • Potential Threat: Aidan Ryan, Williams
  • Women’s 800 Meters
    • Current Record: 2:00.62 (Emily Richards, 2018)
    • Potential Threat: Esther Seeland, Messiah
  • Women’s 1500 Meters
    • Current Record: 4:13.69 (Emily Pomainville, 2021)
    • Potential Threat: Ella Baran, Johns Hopkins
  • Women’s 5000 Meters
    • Current Record: 15:37.48 (Missy Rock, 2003)
    • Potential Threat: Kassie Parker, Loras

Get your popcorn ready, folks!

Every week is D3 Week around here!