UConn's Van Der Els Set for NCAA Championship Finale

2022 NCAA OUTDOOR CHAMPIONSHIP INFORMATION

STORRS, Conn. – When the 5,000 meter NCAA Championship race steps off on Friday night at Oregon's historic Hayward Field, UConn senior Eric Van Der Els (Norwalk, Conn.) will line up in the field of 24 runners set to put the finishing touches on an outstanding Husky career.

"It's a little bit of a bittersweet feeling knowing my time here at UConn is coming to a close but there is no other way I would want it to end," commented Van Deer Els. "This is definitely the cherry on top of the whole experience and getting to run this race at that venue, it's amazing."

"Eric has clearly established himself as one of the best distance runners in UConn history," said Director of Cross Country and Track & Field Greg Roy. "He has so many accolades, there is just the one missing, that All-American status certificate, and that is what he is out there to do. He is definitely one of the best we have had here and one of the best 'team' guys this program has ever had as well."

Van Der Els earned his spot in this year's NCAA Outdoor Track & Field Championship thanks to his qualifying performance at the East Preliminary meet two weeks ago. Needing a top-12 finish to move on to the championship race in Eugene, Oregon this week, Van Der Els came home with a fourth-place finish in the field, posting a time of 13:39.39, securing a spot in the final this Friday night. This will be Van Der Els's first trip to the NCAA Championship.

"The competition was really great, looking at the start list, times, it was stacked race," Van Der Els commented on the semifinal race. "I knew it would be tough, but my coaches really prepared me and I was coming off a good 1500 race the week before at BIG EAST. I knew if I stayed in the mix, stayed patient and could just be there with two laps to go I had a chance. And that's what happened, that was the moment I knew I had a great chance to qualify."

Finishing strong has been the key to racing for Van Der Els, a key part of a strategy he has learned and developed during his time in Storrs. "Looking on paper, I may not be the fastest in the field from a PR standpoint but if you look at my races and who I have beat in those races, look at their PRs, it's about the tactics and I am usually right there in the mix," said the senior runner.

"It's not always about that time. I define myself more as a racer and not a time-trial runner. Sometimes I am not always going to have the fastest time, but I am right there when it comes to the race. Finishing the race, that is what matters the most in these. Can you be a racer? That is really something Coach Roy has preached and instilled in me. "

"We hammer away at run to win and the times will come," stated Roy. "Keep winning your races and you'll be running fast. Tactically, he is one of the best racers I've ever worked with. He has a 'sense', great instincts, some of the best I have ever scene. Just an intuitiveness of when to go, when to hold back, when to make his move."

Van Der Els is putting the finishing touches on his UConn career and is looking to end what has been an outstanding final track season with an All-American effort in his final race. During the indoor season, Van Der Els was the BIG EAST Champion in the 3,000 meters and followed that by winning the 1,000 meters at the IC4A Championship.

The two-time team captain took that success right into outdoor season and posted a new PR in the 5000 when he finished third at the Virginia Challenge at 13:36.28. He took home the gold at the BIG EAST Championship in the 1500 meters then followed up with his qualifying effort at the NCAA Prelims.

"Eric has made it to the BIG DANCE," stated Assistant Coach Lindsay Crevoiserat, who coaches the team's distance runners. "The field that he will step on the line with is truly incredible. Eric has made statement after statement every time he toes the line, and I'm excited to see what he can do on Friday. I enjoy coaching him because he has natural instincts when it comes to racing, which is rare. It doesn't matter how fast or slow the race is going or who is in the race, he will put himself in a position that will give him the best chance."

When Van Der Els does toe that line on Friday night at 7:55 pm PT, he will do so in one of world's top track and field venues in Hayward Field. Host of more USA Olympic Track and Field Trials and NCAA Outdoor Track and Field Championships, the storied venue celebrated 100-years last May and is just completing a renovation. Racing on track with so much history is not something lost on Van Der Els as he prepares for his last collegiate race.

"It's a true honor to have the chance to compete there," Van Der Els said. "I am honored and super ready to go. That track is historic for a reason and it's a great way to finish my career. Definitely something I have been working towards, competing with the best and we are here now. I'm looking forward to getting the chance to really make something of this moment."

As he closes his career, Van Der Els will leave Storrs as the UConn school record holder in the 5,000 meters outdoors and the 1,000 meters and 3,000 meters indoors. During his time at UConn, he has racked up 10 individual race victories on the track and been on five winning relay teams. He has won 14 medals at the BIG EAST, American Athletic Conference, IC4A and New England Championships while at UConn.

Waiting for him in Eugene on Friday night is the chance to add All-American to his impressive collegiate resume.

"My goal heading into this is to give everything I have, run my best race and stay confident," stated Van Der Els. "I I just need to trust myself and my training and that's really all I can do; stay focused on what I can control. Just trust my instincts, don't over think it. I am ready to go!"

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Eric Van Der Els

University of Connecticut Athletics