Waskom Wins NCAA 1,500 For Second Time, Huskies Make It Five 1,500/Mile Wins In A Row

By Keenan Gray of DyeStat

Logan Hannigan-Downs photos

EUGENE, Ore. - The Villanova and UTEP comparisons can finally be put aside - Washington is officially in a class of its own.

The Huskies became the first distance program, regardless of gender, to win a fifth consecutive NCAA Division 1 title between the 1,500 meters and mile disciplines.

Joe Waskom swung wide into lane three with under 100 meters to go and ran down three other competitors ahead of him to give Washington the monumental win in the men’s 1,500-meter final in 3 minutes, 39.48 seconds on the final day of the NCAA men’s championship meet at Hayward Field.

“I look to my left and I knew I was gaining on those guys,” Waskom said. “Honestly, I was getting prepped to dive,”

Waskom’s heroics leapfrogged Washington over both Villanova and UTEP for most consecutive national titles won in the 1,500 and mile (indoor) races. All three schools were a three-way tie with four consecutive wins heading into tonight’s final.

“We cared about getting this title today,” Waskom said. “If it were 3:34 today, we all could’ve done it. If it was 3:55, we were ready for anything. I think that’s what makes us go for five in a row. We’re ready for anything.”

It was just two years ago on the same exact track when Waskom began Washington’s run of consecutive titles, winning the 2022 championship in almost the same exact fashion as he did Friday in a come-from-behind effort. 

Alongside him from the beginning in that same field were his teammates Nathan Green and Luke Houser, who have since won national titles of their own to contribute to the five straight Washington has won.

Of those five national championship races, Waskom, Green and Houser have raced four of them together.

“I’ve known Joe for quite a while now, and the guy I met way back when and the guy I know now are two completely different people,” Green said. “If you knew Joe the way I know Joe, you would not be surprised that he’s winning all this time.”

Waskom had to work for Washington’s fifth title with a field so deep and so evenly matched that it could have gone anyone’s way.

Wisconsin’s Adam Spencer, the reigning Australian national champion, set the tone from the beginning at a pedestrian 46.18 seconds through the first 300 meters, with Waskom sitting dead last behind the contingent of racers

Waskom continued to remain in the back while teammate Houser took the lead with 800 to go as racing began to pick up on the penultimate lap.

As Houser began to fall back a third lead change developed with Northern Arizona’s Colin Sahlman and South Carolina’s Anass Essayi, a Moroccan athlete, going out front into the bell lap.

As they hit the backstretch, Sahlman’s burst of speed triggered not only Essayi, but also Spencer and Oregon’s Elliott Cook to respond with 250 to go.

Sitting in seventh place was Waskom.

“The last thing I remembered in that race was 250 to go and I said, ‘this race isn’t over,’” Waskom said. “But I don’t remember anything after that.”

Sahlman maintained his position into the final 100 meters, but the roar of the Hayward crowd lifted Oregon’s Cook into the lead as he moved on the inside along the rail with less than 50 meters.

Cook could see a title right in front of him, only to be snatched away from Waskom within the last 10 meters.

Waskom let out a roar across the line, flexing the jersey with the signature ‘W’ one last time.

“Two years ago, I crossed that line, and it was kind of a shock; I was really surprised I won,” Waskom said. “Today, I knew I could do it and I knew I was in shape to win.”

It was also the final time Waskom, Green and Houser will get to race together in Washington singlets as both Waskom and Houser are expected to turn pro within the next few days, according to coach Andy Powell.

“I kept them together for three years and I don’t know if I’ve ever had three guys make three finals,” Powell said. “They really do like each other, they’re good friends.”

The bond among the three is what fueled the success over the last three years. In a sport so individually driven, Waskom, Green and Houser truly made it a team environment at Washington.

“I came into this program five years ago not knowing what to expect,” Waskom said. “Leaving here winning two titles and making a World team is great, but what I’m going to remember the most is the bonds I’ve made with my teammates and my coaches.”

To call Washington ‘Miler U’ is fitting for these accomplishments, especially with Powell guiding them.

“It just shows Andy’s the best miler coach in the history of milers,” said Green, who finished 10th in the race. “It just shows our boys are dedicated and will do anything to win. We will be competitive in any event, anywhere, any time, any place. We’re here for it.”

Cook settled for second in 3:39.57 as he looked to deliver Oregon’s first time in the event since Mac Fleet won back-to-back titles in 2013-14.

Spencer finished third for the second year in a row by clocking 3:39.80, with Sahlman close behind in fourth in 3:39.92. 

Iona’s Damien Dilcher earned fifth place, running 3:40.24, with Virginia’s Wes Porter finishing sixth in 3:40.29, Iowa State’s Ezekiel Rop placing seventh in 3:40.50 and Essayi placing eighth in 3:40.81.