BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – Edward Cheserek stole the show during the first day of the NCAA Indoor Track and Field Championships on Friday, adding two more national championships to his collection and helping the Men of Oregon earn 20 points between the 5,000 and distance medley relay.
Heading into the day, even the Ducks coaches were unsure if they would use Cheserek in both events, with the 3,000 looming on Saturday. In the 5,000, it was a two-man race with Virginia Tech’s Thomas Curtin but Cheserek pulled away with two laps remaining to win in 13:47.89. It wasn’t until the junior came off the track at the end of the 5,000 that a final decision was made.