You could say former Moses Brown standout Sophia Gorriaran is enjoying her best season yet as a collegian.
On Sunday, the Harvard University junior set a new NCAA record in the 1,000 meters at the Saucony Battle for Boston. Gorriaran clocked a winning time of 2:37.72 at Boston University’s Track & Tennis Center, breaking the previous mark of 2:38.45 set last month by Penn State’s Haley Kitching at the Nittany Lions Challenge.
Gorriaran also improved upon her own Ivy League record of 2:38.75, which she ran at the John Thomas Terrier Classic on Jan. 31.
Thus far this winter, Gorriaran has already posted NCAA qualifiers in the 800 meters (2:01.30) and the mile (4:29.53), where she currently ranks No. 9 and No. 20 nationally, respectively.
The NCAA record marks another milestone for Gorriaran, making her the only student-athlete in Harvard history to hold two separate NCAA records simultaneously. The four-time All-American was also a member of the Crimson’s record-setting distance medley relay squad that captured the title at the prestigious Penn Relays Carnival in 10:37.55.
Check out the video below of one Sophia’s workout recently, filmed by The Stride Report.
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Congratulations to former East Greenwich standout Nick Martin, who became the state’s latest sub-four-minute miler.
The University of Rhode Island junior accomplished the feat at the BU David Hemery Valentine Invitational on Feb. 14, finishing 13th overall in the open race in 3:59.07.
Like Gorriaran, Martin is putting together a stellar indoor campaign. He broke eight minutes for the first time in the 3,000m at the BU John Thomas Terrier Classic last month, clocking 7:57.63. He also posted a 5K best of 14:09.99 at the BU Sharon Colyear-Danville Season Opener in early December.
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A glance at the NCAA rankings shows another former Rhode Island standout making national noise.
Former Woonsocket star and Mississippi senior Tarik Robinson-O’Hagan currently ranks No. 1 in the nation in the shot. He unleashed a nation-leading 69 feet, 6 inches to win the Bob Pollock Invitational on Jan. 30-31. Robinson-O’Hagan is the two-time defending NCAA champion in the event.
He also ranks No. 4 nationally in the 35-pound weight throw with a season best of 78-0.25, recorded at the Rod McCravy Memorial Invitational last month.
