University of Connecticut Athletics
University of Connecticut
NCAA Championship
Rutt Competes At NCAA Championship
6/8/2011 12:00:00 AM | Men's Track and Field
June 8, 2011
DES MOINES, Iowa - University of Connecticut senior Mike Rutt (Sinking Spring, Pa.) completed his career as a Husky today, placing 14th overall in the prelims of the 800m run at the NCAA Outdoor Championship. Rutt ran a 1:47.75, his best time of the season.
"Mike didn't run terribly today, but he just didn't run a tactically sound race," head coach Greg Roy said. "Physically, he ran a very good race. It was the same set up as the indoor championship but he just didn't make his move at the right time and that is what hurt him in the end. Mike is a great competitor, a great leader and one of the best athletes that we have had in this program. You always want an athlete like him to go out on top, but overall he had a great season and I am proud of everything that he has accomplished here at UConn."
Rutt entered the race with the seventh best time in his heat and improved on that standing, placing fifth in the first heat of the 800m prelims.
The Sinking Spring, Pa. native, who started the race in lane seven, ran towards the back of the pack until the final 400 meters of the race. At the 400m mark, Rutt made a move on the outside and ran in fifth place for the next 100 meters until he was passed on the outside. At the 700m mark Rutt once again made a push towards the front of the pack, but it would not be enough as he crossed the line in fifth place. He finished just behind Washington State's Joe Abbott and Minnesota's Harun Abda who placed fourth and third respectively in the heat.
The top two athletes in each heat advanced to the finals, along with the next two fastest times. Going into Friday's final, UC Irvine's Charles Jock holds the top qualifying time, running a 1:45.77.
Players Mentioned
