Cinnaminson’s Austin Gabay ran the 2nd-fastest 3,000 ever by a Duke runner Friday night at the John Thomas Terrier Classic at Boston University’s Track and Tennis Center.
Racing nearly 200 of the top collegiate distance runners, Gabay placed 15th in 8:01.79, just 7 ½ seconds behind winner Gabriel Sanchez of Tennessee, who ran 7:54.36.
Gabay closed in 28.61 for his final 200, 58.18 for his final 400 and 2:01.86 for his final 800.
Gabay’s time is No. 2 in Duke history behind only Nick Dahl, who ran 7:59.84 in 2022. It was the first 3,000 Gabay has ever run in high school or college.
Click to access Duke_T_F_Record_Book.pdf
The time is also No. 3 ever by a South Jersey runner. Ford Palmer of Absegami ran 7:57.65 at the Columbia East-West Challenge at the Armory in 2017, and Samuel Gerstenbacher, a Schalick graduate who was a multiple NCAA Division 2 All-America at Elizabethtown, ran 8:01.24 as a post-collegian in February in Boston.
Gabay opened in 2:10.10 through 800 meters and came through 1600 in 4:21.71 and then ran his next three 400s in 65.52, 64.75 and 61.23 before closing in 28.61.
Here’s my best attempt at an all-time South Jersey alumni 3,000 list:
8:01.24i … Samuel Gerstenbacher [Schalick], Feb. 26, 2023, Boston
8:01.79i … Austin Gabay [Cinnaminson], Jan. 26, 2024, Boston
8:10.69i … Sebastien Reed [Pitman], March 6, 2022, Boston
8:11.81 … Oliver Adler [Cherry Hill East], Feb. 12, 2022, Boston
8:13.00i … Karl Savage [Eastern], Feb. 25, 2005, New York
8:13.37 … Jack Shea [Cherokee], March 18, 2022, Tempe, Ariz.
8:15.06i … Ethan Wechsler [Cherokee], Jan. 26, 2023, Boston
8:17.82i … Nick / Cole Pschunder [Eastern], Feb. 8, 2019, Boston
8:17.95 … Connor Melko [Bishop Eustace], Feb. 12, 2022, New York
8:18.75i … Connor Herr [Shawnee], Feb. 10, 2017, New York
From the Backstretch by Reuben Frank 
another addition to the list, Seth Clevenger just ran 8:12.72 (last night at Razorback Invitational)
https://www.tfrrs.org/all_performances/IA_college_m_Iowa_State.html?list_hnd=4466&season_hnd=627#event60
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Hey Pete – I actually added Seth’s time five minutes after that post so you were in there very fast! Thanks!
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Another Add – Connor Melko ,8:10.99 https://www.tfrrs.org/results/75394/4658942/Scarlet_Knight_Open/Mens-3000-Meters
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Kevin McDonnell , 8:14.40
https://www.tfrrs.org/results/27008/1724730/Penn_State_National_Invitational/Mens-3000-Meters
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Hey Pete – Thanks. I was actually updating the list last night. Incredibly, these guys all ran sub-8:15 this weekend!
8:01.79i … Austin Gabay [Cinnaminson], Jan. 26, 2024, Boston
8:12.50i … Matt Coffey [Camden Catholic], Jan. 26, 2024, New York
8:12.72 … Seth Clevenger [Haddonfield], Jan. 26, 2024, Fayetteville, Ark.
8:12.92 … Kevin Antczak [Mainland Regional], Jan. 26, 2024, Winston-Salem, N.C.
8:14.32i … Ethan Wechsler [Cherokee], Jan. 26, 2024, Boston
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So this should be the up-to-date sub-8:20 list … so 5 of the last 13 this past weekend
7:57.65i … Ford Palmer [Absegami], Jan. 28, 2017, New York
8:01.24i … Samuel Gerstenbacher [Schalick], Feb. 26, 2023, Boston
8:01.79i … Austin Gabay [Cinnaminson], Jan. 26, 2024, Boston
8:10.01i … Jon Vitez [Haddonfield], Feb. 9, 2013, Princeton
8:10.69i … Sebastien Reed [Pitman], March 6, 2022, Boston
8:10.99i … Connor Melko [Bishop Eustace], Feb. 4, 2023, New York
8:11.81 … Oliver Adler [Cherry Hill East], Feb. 12, 2022, Boston
8:12.50i … Matt Coffey [Paul VI], Jan. 26, 2024, New York
8:12.72i … Seth Clevenger [Haddonfield], Jan. 26, 2024, Fayetteville, Ark.
8:12.92i… Kevin Antczak [Mainland Regional], Jan. 26, 2024, Winston-Salem, N.C.
8:13.00i … Karl Savage [Eastern], Feb. 25, 2005, New York
8:13.37i … Jack Shea [Cherokee], March 18, 2022, Tempe, Ariz.
8:14.32i … Ethan Wechsler [Cherokee], Jan. 26, 2024, Boston
8:17.82i … Nick / Cole Pschunder [Eastern], Feb. 8, 2019, Boston
8:18.75i … Connor Herr [Shawnee], Feb. 10, 2017, New York
8:19.68 … Marc Pelerin [Cherokee], April 10, 2004, Philadelphia
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