Cinnaminson graduate Mike Ungvarsky ran a big steeplechase PR Friday in Raleigh, N.C.
Ungvarsky, a Duke junior, ran 8:53.10 and placed 11th out of 53 runners in the 3,000 steeple at the Raleigh Relays at North Carolina State’s Paul Derr Stadium. He was 3rd in his section.
His previous steeple PR was 9:02.04 from the 2019 Penn Relays. He didn’t race outdoors in the spring of 2020 or 2021, and his entire 2019 outdoor season consisted of a few relay legs and four steeples.
Ungvarsky’s time is No. 5 in Duke history. After getting out in 38 seconds for the first 200, he split 71.33, 71.12, 69.68, 69.40, 71.83, 72.02 and 69.74.
Ungvarsky never ran a steeplechase until he arrived at Duke. This was his first steeple in almost three years, since he ran 9:15.11 at the 2019 ACC Championships in Charlottesville, Va., in May of 2019.
Who’s the last South Jersey runner to go sub-9 in the steeplechase?
Great question and I have no idea what the answer is. If you know of any, please let me know in the comment’s section!
From the Backstretch by Reuben Frank 