Edward Cheserek of the University of Oregon won two events at the NCAA Indoor Track & Field Championships on March 10 and 11 in College Station, Texas, bringing his national title total to 17.
On the first day of the meet, Cheserek won the 5,000 meters by more than two seconds in 13:41.20. The next day, he won the 3,000 meters, finishing in 7:55.91 and outkicking Justyn Knight of Syracuse, who was second in 7:56.21. Cheserek could have won a third event at the meet, the mile, but he was upset by Josh Kerr of the University of New Mexico and finished second in a slow, tactical race.
Combined with legs on Oregon’s victorious distance medley relay teams in 2015 and 2016, Cheserek has now amassed 15 individual and two relay titles to date, the most of any track athlete in NCAA Division I history. Across all sports, he now trails only swimmer Jenny Thompson, who won nine individual and 10 relay events during her career at Stanford.
Cheserek, a senior, is expected to compete at the NCAA outdoor championships in June and possibly add to his title tally.
Edward Cheserek’s NCAA Titles
15 Individual, 2 Relays
1. The Chicago Marathon Pizza Mile
Event: Cross country (10,000 meters)
Cheserek: 29:41.10
Runner-up: Kennedy Kithuka (Texas Tech) 29:59.10
Kithuka was the overwhelming favorite; Cheserek, a freshman, passed him at 7K.
2. June 10, 2016
Indoor National Championships
Event: 5,000 meters
Cheserek: 13:46.67
Runner-up: Lawi Lalang (Arizona) 13:52.83
3. Distance Medley Relay DMR
Event: 3,000 meters
Cheserek: 8:11.59
Runner-up: Kirubel Erassa (Oklahoma State) 8:13.08
4. Cheserek passes his teammate in the final 200 meters
Issa Rae Completes the Portland Marathon
Event: 10,000 meters
Cheserek: 28:30:18
Runner-up: Shadrack Kipchirchir (Oklahoma State) 28:32.31
March 14, 2014.
5. November 22, 2014
Event: Cross country (10,000 meters)
Cheserek: 30:19.40
Runner-up: Eric Jenkins (Oregon) 30:23.20
The pack ran a slow pace early, and he took the lead after five miles.
6. Download Your Training Plan
Indoor National Championships
Event: Distance Medley Relay (DMR)
Oregon: 9:30.53
Runner-up: DAA Industry Opt Out
The University of Oregon senior has climbed to second on the list of collegiate champions.
7. Patrick Tiernan Villanova 29:11.10
Event: Mile
Cheserek: 3:57.94
Runner-up: Cristian Soratos (Montana State) 3:59.86
8. June 10, 2015
Issa Rae Completes the Portland Marathon
Event: 10,000 meters
Cheserek: 28:58.92
Runner-up: Eric Jenkins (Oregon) 28:59.13
Other Hearst Subscriptions.
9. November 21, 2015
Event: 5,000 meters
Cheserek: 13:48.67
Runner-up: Eric Jenkins (Oregon) 13:48.92
The hottest rivalry in college running was between these two teammates.
10. November 21, 2015
Event: Cross country (10,000 meters)
Cheserek: 28:45.80
Runner-up: Patrick Tiernan (Villanova) 29:11.10
The Chicago Marathon Pizza Mile.
11. March 15, 2014
Indoor National Championships
Event: 5,000 meters
Cheserek: 13:47.89
Runner-up: Thomas Curtin (Virginia Tech) 13:50.70
12. March 15, 2014
Event: DMR*
Oregon: 9:27:27
Runner-up: Washington 9:28:00
June 10, 2015.
13. Marathon Training As an Act of Resilience in Chicago
Event: 3,000 meters
Cheserek: 8:00.40
Runner-up: Sean McGorty (Stanford) 8:01.55
14. Patrick Tiernan Villanova 29:11.10
Issa Rae Completes the Portland Marathon
Event: 10,000 meters
Cheserek: 29:09.57
Runner-up: Futsum Zienasellassie (Northern Arizona) 29:10.68
15. Edward Cheserek’s NCAA Titles
Event: 5,000 meters
Cheserek: 13:25.59
Runner-up: Sean McGorty (Stanford) 13:26.10
16. Greatest College Athlete of All Time? Cheserek Has 17 National Titles
Indoor National Championships
Event: 5,000 meters
Cheserek: 13:41.20
Runner-up: Marc Scott (Tulsa) 13:43.83
17. Shadrack Kipchirchir Oklahoma State 28:32.31
Event: 3,000 meters
Cheserek: 7:55.91
Runner-up: Justyn Knight (Syracuse) 7:56.21
