Bobby Poplau, a sophomore from Cherokee, ran the 4th-fastest 1,000 in Rutgers history Saturday at the Ott Center.
Poplau ran 2:25.43 in his first collegiate 1,000. That’s 1:56.35 pace for 800 meters with an additional lap tacked on at the end.
Jim Westman set the school record of 2:23.03 at the IC4A Championships at Jadwin Gym in 1983, and Penn transfer Justin Cornetta ran 2:24.56 in 2023 at the Armory. The only other faster time by a Rutgers middle-distance runner is the 2:24.38 that Gabriel Rodriguez from Union High ran in the same race Saturday.
The South Jersey alumni record over 1,000 meters is 2:22.53 set by Bordentown’s Rob Novak at the Armory in 2009. Others under 2:24: Absegami’s Ford Palmer [2:23.65 in Boston in 2012] and Cinnaminson’s Brian Tetrault [2:23.74 in New York in 2011].
Poplau, who has an 800 PR of 1:51.02 from last spring in Eugene, came through 400 in 56.82 and 800 in 1:54.56.
Rutgers senior Kyle Rakitis ran 2:27.24 in the same race, which is 10th on the all-time Rutgers list. It was his also first collegiate 1,000.
From the Backstretch by Reuben Frank 