Syracuse Track & Field: Crittenden Earns 1st Team All-America Honors

The Syracuse Orange concluded the 2016 NCAA Outdoor Track & Field Championships with Freddie Crittenden earning the best finish with his 4th-place in the 110m hurdles. Crittenden received First Team All-America honors after running 13.70, which was just .03 seconds out of second place. He joins Adrian Woodley and Jarret Eaton as the only Syracuse hurdlers to earn All-America honors in indoor and outdoor track in the same year. Oregon’s Devon Allen was the event winner, with a time of 13.50.

Unfortunately for the Orange, the other competitors in Thursday and Friday events did not fare as well as Freddie. In the women’s 10000m on Thursday evening, Margo Malone and Shaylyn Tuite started strong and hung with the lead pack for over half the race. Unlike the men’s 10k race, the women were not content to coast, and New Mexico’s Alice Wright led most of the race in an attempt to make Dominique Scott from Arkansas work for her victory.

Malone and Tuite were unable to stay with the leaders as long as they hoped heading into the meet. Scott rolled to the victory in 32:35.69. Malone finished 18th in 34:06 with Tuite right behind in 34:10. They end their Syracuse careers with Honorable Mention All-American honors, and with the knowledge that they helped keep the Syracuse women’s distance program on the national scene the last four years.

Adam Palamar entered the 1500m final as an underdog in what was shaping up to be one of the best races of the meet. Virginia’s Henry Wynne opened up the race by taking the field through 300 meters in under 42 seconds. As the pack hit 500 meters, Palamar was bumped and fell off the track, ending any chance he had of scoring.

By the time, Palamar got back into the race, he was too far behind. Akron’s Clayton Murphy won the race with a fantastic time of 3:36.38. Palamar’s 12th place finish earned Second Team All-America honors and after the race he spoke with Letsrun.com about the collision and his plans to try and make Canada’s Olympic team.

Justyn Knight was the last Syracuse athlete to take to the track in Eugene. The sophomore standout entered the 5,000m as one of the group looking to take down Oregon’s Edward Cheserek. As expected Virginia Tech’s Thomas Curtin and Villanova’s Patrick Tiernan pushed the pace and Knight hung in the group of 5 along with Stanford’s Sean McGorty and Cheserek.

Knight entered the final lap in great position, but was unable to match the pace when McGorty and Cheserek took off. Just like the 10k, Cheserek used his speed to win the race and claim his record-tying 15th career NCAA title. Knight finished 10th and grabbed Second Team All-America honors. Like Palamar, Knight will attempt to make Canada’s Olympic team this summer, and we will keep you updated on their status.

Arkansas claimed the women’s team title, and Florida won the men’s team competition. This concluded Syracuse’s historic 2015-16 campaign, but the good news for the Orange is that all five men who competed in Eugene return next year. It should be once again a fun year to follow.

Thanks to everyone who read these recaps this year. Keep an eye out for more information on Syracuse’s Olympic athletes this summer.