UAlbany's Sean Halpin Finishes Sixth in Men's 1,500-Meter Run at USA Junior Nationals

Des Moines, Iowa - University at Albany's Sean Halpin placed sixth in the men's 1,500-meter run final at the USA Junior National Track & Field Championships on Saturday, June 26 at Drake Stadium.

Halpin, an 18-year-old who just finished his freshman year, hit the tape in 3:53.00 and improved his placing by two positions after running the eighth-fastest time in the second of two heats in yesterday's preliminary round which unexpectedly produced the afternoon's top-10 marks. Princeton's Peter Callahan won the race by finishing in 3:46.42, while Elias Gedyon followed closely behind in 3:47.65.

"Yesterday, the first heat was very slow and I knew that (advancing past) the qualifying round depended on my time," explained Halpin, who changed his approach by staying in the back of the group and passing runners in this evening's race after getting off to a quick start and leading the pack at the beginning of yesterday's qualifying round. "I just made sure I had a good time in yesterday's race. Tonight, I told myself that timing wasn't important and that it was all about running the race and staying in the right position among the other competitors. It feels really good to be named an All-American. This was my goal from the start, and I feel like all of my hard work has paid off."

A native of Mount Vernon, N.Y., Halpin qualified for the national event by winning the mile at the Great Dane Classic in 4:08.77 on Jan. 22. He was named the Most Outstanding Male Track Performer of the Meet as well as the America East Conference Male Performer of the Week for his efforts. Halpin was also a key member of several winning relay teams in his first collegiate season. Indoors, he ran a leg for the victorious 4x800-meter relay squad at the IC4A Championship to help the Great Danes clinch the team title for the second straight year. Outdoors, he competed on the first-place 4x800-meter relay at the America East championship meet and earned all-conference laurels.

UAlbany has produced eight junior All-Americans, including Halpin, Tyler Fogarty, John Moore, Joe Greene, Alyssa Lotmore, Ryan Gaedje, Jessica Ortman, and Jenna Ortman, since 2004.

Men's 1,500-Meter Final Results

1. Peter Callahan (Princeton), 3:46.42, 2. Elias Gedyon (Quiet Fire TC), 3:47.65, 3. Darius Terry (Unattached), 3:48.26, 4. Colby Alexander (unattached), 3:50.89. 5. Taylor Monaghan (Oklahoma State) 3:51.59, 6. Sean Halpin (UAlbany) 3:53.00, 7. Zachary Dahleen (Southern Illinois), 3:54.97, 8. Ryan Hagen (Virginia Tech) 3:55.78, 9. Alex Taylor (Appalachian State), 3:58.32, 10. Paul Reilly (Unattached), 3:58.38, 11. Joseph Bubniak (Syracuse), 4:04.76, 12. Jacob Wike (Wichita State), 4:15.82.


Courtesy: UAlbany Sports Information