Syracuse track & field alumni continue to excel

As we like to do here from time to time, let’s catch up on some of the Syracuse Orange track and field alumni who are pursuing post-collegiate careers. We’ll start off with a #HurdleCuse update.

Freddie Crittenden was named to the United States shuttle hurdles relay team which will compete at the 2019 IAAF World Relays in Yokohama Japan next month. Crittenden holds the 7th spot in the IAAF 110m Hurdle rankings which puts him 2nd among American athletes in the event.

Jarret Eaton holds the No. 3 American spot and is 12th in the world right now. Eaton and Crittenden are just beginning the outdoor season and shooting to make the IAAF World Championships in Qatar this fall.

Another Syracuse alum aiming for Qatar is Justyn Knight. Knight made his return to competition at the BAA 5k over the weekend. This was Justyn’s first professional road race and he earned a 3rd place finish in Boston in a time of 13:46.

Afterward, Knight talked about his transition to being a pro and how it took some humbling in his one indoor race to get him back where he wants to be as he prepares for this year’s World Championships.

While these are the Syracuse alums garnering the most international acclaim there have been some other notable Orange performances since our last update. Joey Whelan defended his title in the Austin Marathon and another Orange Olympic Trials qualifier Dan Lennon won the inagural Helderberg to Hudson half marathon. Whelan and Lennon are expected to be running the Grandma’s Marathon in June.

Philo Germano took first place at the Ukrop’s Monument Avenue 10k in Richmond, Virginia with Shannon Malone making her Reebok Boston Track Club debut by taking 2nd place in the women’s race in Richmond.

We’ll be keeping an eye on these former Orange athletes especially with the build up for the 2020 Olympics beginning.