2008 Woodie Awards
Mach stumbles, finishes 8th nationally in 800-meter run
Junior gains All-America honors in first attempt at title
By: D.J. Palomares
Issue date: 3/17/08 Section: Sports
Junior Abraham Mach was in good position to win the 800-meter run Saturday at the NCAA Indoor Championships.
But he was cut off by his opponents and stumbled to an eighth-place finish.
"He got cut off and he got stepped on," said coach Jim Knapp. "It's unfortunate, but those things happen on this indoor track. We had talked before the race about his long stride and he had to stay out of congestion, but those are the perils of running indoor track."
Mach began the meet in the middle of the pack, but moved up to first with 300m left to go at the meet in Fayetteville, Ark.
Louisiana State senior Elkana Kosgei caught up with Mach and cut him off heading into a turn. University of Miami senior Tim Harris stepped on Mach's long legs, tripping him.
"When I stumbled, I lost all my momentum," Mach said. "I wasn't able to get myself together in the last 200 meters."
Mach finished the race with a time of 1:57.73. Northern Iowa junior Tyler Mulder caught Kosgei in the final stretch and placed first in the event with a time of 1:49.20.
"My finishing time was kind of embarrassing," Mach said. "But I worked hard all season to be an All-American and it feels good."
Mach qualified for the finals after finishing with the fourth fastest time in the preliminaries on Friday. He was named All-American by placing in the top eight, becoming the first CMU 800m All-American since Jeff Delong in 2001.
"We are very proud of him," Knapp said. "Right now he is very disappointed. But he is here, he made the finals and he is an All-American. Like I told him when the race was over, one race does not make a career."
The meet was Mach's first national competition on the NCAA level.
"Now that I have been to a national meet I know what it feels like," he said. "I know how tight the packs are and how competitive it is. I just need to work on my tactics and get back here next year."
Mach will have a few weeks of rest before having to start running in the outdoor track and field season.
"I will start training in a couple weeks," he said. "I want to get back to work, and try to qualify for the outdoor nationals."
sports@cm-life.com
But he was cut off by his opponents and stumbled to an eighth-place finish.
"He got cut off and he got stepped on," said coach Jim Knapp. "It's unfortunate, but those things happen on this indoor track. We had talked before the race about his long stride and he had to stay out of congestion, but those are the perils of running indoor track."
Mach began the meet in the middle of the pack, but moved up to first with 300m left to go at the meet in Fayetteville, Ark.
Louisiana State senior Elkana Kosgei caught up with Mach and cut him off heading into a turn. University of Miami senior Tim Harris stepped on Mach's long legs, tripping him.
"When I stumbled, I lost all my momentum," Mach said. "I wasn't able to get myself together in the last 200 meters."
Mach finished the race with a time of 1:57.73. Northern Iowa junior Tyler Mulder caught Kosgei in the final stretch and placed first in the event with a time of 1:49.20.
"My finishing time was kind of embarrassing," Mach said. "But I worked hard all season to be an All-American and it feels good."
Mach qualified for the finals after finishing with the fourth fastest time in the preliminaries on Friday. He was named All-American by placing in the top eight, becoming the first CMU 800m All-American since Jeff Delong in 2001.
"We are very proud of him," Knapp said. "Right now he is very disappointed. But he is here, he made the finals and he is an All-American. Like I told him when the race was over, one race does not make a career."
The meet was Mach's first national competition on the NCAA level.
"Now that I have been to a national meet I know what it feels like," he said. "I know how tight the packs are and how competitive it is. I just need to work on my tactics and get back here next year."
Mach will have a few weeks of rest before having to start running in the outdoor track and field season.
"I will start training in a couple weeks," he said. "I want to get back to work, and try to qualify for the outdoor nationals."
sports@cm-life.com
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