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There were lots of outstanding Syracuse Orange performances in 2015, but one moment stood out among the TNIAAM staff. The fact that this performance captured national attention from numerous media outlets certainly didn't hurt when it came time to vote.
When Syracuse XC/Track star Justyn Knight took to the track at Florida State on May 18th, he was one of the favorites for the 1500m final at the ACC Outdoor Track Championships. While he was known among track circles, he was far from a household name. That would soon change.As Knight was in the lead with a little over a lap to go, he lost a shoe. In the clip in this tweet, you can see the shoe on the track as the field passes.
No Shoe, No Problem for @Justyn_Knight as he takes the 1500m #ACCOTF title. Can you spot his shoe? pic.twitter.com/uI21eYxHsD
— Athletics Canada (@AthleticsCanada) May 17, 2015
Despite running he final 500 meters with just one spike, Knight was able to hold off Virginia Tech Hokies' runner Neil Gourley for the title in a time of 3:47.85. The video below shows how Knight was able to finish strong even missing the shoe as the pack tried to chase him down.
Knight's win was the only ACC title for the Orange men's team at the ACC meet. It marked his arrival on the collegiate level, and the poise he showed in the race has served him well throughout 2015....and it also allowed him to show off his sense of humor after the race.
When you realize you just lost your shoe during a championship race pic.twitter.com/H4pFRk8uDk
— Justyn Knight (@justyn_knight) May 18, 2015