Gopher Distance Runners Eye Seattle Meet

If you've examined results from the two University of Minnesota men's meets, you've noticed that Gopher long distance star Chris Rombough (pictured) hasn't raced longer than 800 meters.

The sophomore, who came into his own last fall winning the Big Ten cross country title and finishing 14th at NCAAs, has run a pair of 800s -- clocking 1:55.84 in the faster of the two -- and a 4 x 400 leg. This weekend, though, he'll run one of his main events, the 3000 meters, at the Washington Invitational in Seattle.

"He has been 'training long and racing short,' at this early preparatory date in the season," Gopher distance coach Steve Plascencia explained in an e-mail exchange with DtB. "With this season really still in its infancy, we look to maintain a good training regimen with periodic racing. We will find out where he currently is in terms of race fitness at a relevant distance in Seattle."

The Gopher's star freshman Mike Torchia will also race 3000m in Seattle. He ran unattached in the mile at the Northwest Open, clocking a modest 4:18.80, but will don the maroon and gold this weekend for his first official race as a Gopher trackster.

Plascencia reports that his distance crew is largely healthy "and working hard right now."

"We hope to see good results in the upcoming weeks," he said.

Update: The heat sheets are up for the meet. Rombough is joined in Saturday's fast first section of the 3000m by former Winona HS star Garrett Heath of Stanford and former Stillwater HS and William & Mary star Sean Graham. Torchia runs in the third section. Antonio Vega of the Gophers is matched up tonight with Minnetonka HS grad Will Lear of Pomona-Pitzer in the 5000.

Also, Bria Wetsch opens her Oregon career in the Mile at the meet.

Photo courtesy of the U of M.