The nation's #1 distance recruit Edward Cheserek of St. Benedict's (Newark, NJ) is on Villanova's campus today and tomorrow on his official recruiting visit. The two-time Foot Locker National Cross Country champion has narrowed his college choice to five schools: University of Arizona, Oregon, Northern Arizona, University of Portland, and Villanova. He has visited each of the other four school already, so Villanova will have the last opportunity to impress Cheserek before he makes his decision. In addition, Villanova is the only school in the East -- and close to his home -- to have a chance at the holder of the US prep indoor 5000 meter national record (13:57.02), something that will hopefully factor into his decision.
The Kenyan-born Cheserek, who has won eight national titles in his career and just turned 19 a week ago, became just the fourth boy in the 34 year history of the Foot Locker National Cross-Country Championships to win that race twice when he captured that title last December at Balboa Park in San Diego. Cheserek joined Abdirizak Mohamud (1996-97), Dathan Ritzenhein (1999-2000), and Lukas Verzbicas (2009-2010) as the only boys to win the FL National XC title twice. He has PRs of 4:02.21 for the mile and 8:42.66 over two miles. He is the reigning Gatorade National Cross Country Runner of the Year.
Here is a recent article from The Star-Ledger
Edward Cheserek of St. Benedict's Prep is taking his final college visit to Villanova this weekend
Jim Lambert for The Star-Ledger
on February 07, 2013
Edward Cheserek of St. Benedict's Prep, the top high school distance runner in the nation, will take his fifth and final college visit to Villanova this Friday (tomorrow) and Saturday.
Cheserek, an 8-time national champion, has already visited Northern Arizona, Arizona, Oregon and Portland.
Cheserek will return to the track on Sunday at the NJCTC Championships where he will probably run the 1,000 and the 1,600. He will not race at Wednesday's State Prep Championships as he prepares for the Elite 2-Mile at the Millrose Games on Feb. 16 where he will chase the national indoor record of 8:40.0 set in 1964 by Gerry Lindgren.
After that Cheserek will run the DM at the Easterns at the N.Y. Armory on Feb. 26 before finishing up his indoor campaign at the New Balance Nationals March 8-9-10 at the NY Armory. Cheserek will anchor the SM at nationals and probably run two other races.
No comments:
Post a Comment