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Dec 13, 2023

Collet, Others Rewrite NCAA DIII Steeplechase History ::: USTFCCCA

Christopher Collet reminded everybody that, “It ain’t over, ’til it’s over.” It,

Christopher Collet reminded everybody that, "It ain't over, 'til it's over."

It, meaning the window to set divisional records, according to the USTFCCCA.

From The USTFCCCA InfoZone: Records & Lists

Collet, who competes for Wartburg and recently finished runner-up in the steeplechase at the 2023 NCAA DIII Outdoor Track & Field Championships, set all-time division best in the event on Saturday night. The Wartburg star covered the distance – and cleared the barriers – in 8:38.46, taking more than three seconds off the previous mark established in early May by Colin Kirkpatrick of Pomona-Pitzer.

Prior to his record-breaking effort at the Portland Track Festival, Collet was the eighth-best performer in NCAA DIII history with his 8:47.57 effort from the Drake Relays in late April. A near 11-second PR changed that.

Get this: Peter Kosgei of Hamilton held the NCAA DIII record in the event since 2008 at 8:43.78 when he ran that mark at the Penn Relays. That was as of May 5 – almost one month ago to the day.

Now, Kosgei is the fourth-best performer in NCAA DIII history with the fifth-best performance. That's what happens when Collet (8:38.46), Kirkpatrick (8:41.92) and Christian Patzka of UW-Whitewater (8:42.46) all run blistering marks within one month of each other. Patzka did so in a winning effort at the NCAA DIII Outdoor Championships.