Widener sophomore Thomas Flear, a Clearview graduate, ran the 5th-fastest 10,000 in Widener history at the Danny Curran Invitational on his home track in Chester, Pa.
Flear, who’s improved dramatically since his days at Clearview, ran 30:46.66 and was the first collegiate finisher, taking 2nd to J.R. Creekmore, a former University of Tennessee runner from Wilmington, Del. Creekmor ran 30:43.76.
Flear’s time is fastest by a Widener runner in five years and a PR by about 13 seconds. He ran 30:59.16 last year at the same meet.
Flear placed 7th this past fall at the NCAA Division 3 Metro Region Championships at DREAM Park in Logan Township, just a few miles west of his hometown of Harrison Township. He went on to race at the NCAA Championships in Carlisle, Pa.
He won his first Middle Atlantic Athletic Conference title this past indoor season in Reading, placing 1st in the 5,000 in 15:05.99, and he also placed 2nd in the 3,000 in 8:48.17.
The 10,000 was his first race since the indoor conference meet.
Flear is also No. 10 in Widener history indoors at 5,000 meters with his PR 14:58.93 at Ocean Breeze in February. He’s also run 4:00.72 for 1,500 meters in a meet last April at West Chester University.
At Clearview, Flear had PRs of 4:47.26 for 1,600 meters [and a slightly faster 4:48.43 for a full mile] and 10:19.51 for 3,200 meters.
For Rowan, in the same race Flear ran 30:46.66, junior Matthew Conway from Haddon Township ran a PR 31:17.89, junior Giancarlo Vega from Timber Creek ran a PR 31:37.17, and sophomore teammate Shane Vostenak from Bishop Eustace and Delran ran 31:37.61.
From the Backstretch by Reuben Frank 