Guarino claims second national title
BALDWIN-WALLACE MEET WEBSITE
Post-race quotes from 1500-meter champion
Photos from race
BEREA, Ohio -- Fredonia State junior Nick Guarino (Bergen/Byron-Bergen) claimed his second national title this year, taking first place in the men’s 1,500-meter run at the Division III National Championships on Saturday.
"Winning the indoor mile was a huge confidence boost going into the outdoor season," Guarino said. "I knew I was definitely going to go, you know, I was going to get a good enough automatic qualifying time to get into the field. There was no doubt in my mind I was going to get in.
"Coming into the indoor season, my main goal was to make nationals, get a good time to go, and then become an All-American. The indoor season was a magical season for me. It just all came together. It then continued to the outdoor season. I had so much more confidence coming out of the indoor season to the outdoor season."
Guarino's winning time of 3:50.43 was followed by Yermie Cohen of M.I.T. at 3:50.72. On Thursday's preliminaries, Guarino finished in a time of 3:52.03.
"He ran a smart race," Fredonia State coach Liz Aldrich said. "He stayed out of trouble and stayed where he needed to be to kick it in at the end."
Guarino won his first title in the mile during the indoor season.
"It's really great to go back to back winning nationals," Aldrich said. "It takes an awful lot. There are always other people trying to sneak in there and to win indoor and outdoor is a big deal."
