Pair of Belmont High Alumni Race To National Championships

It was a magical Saturday, May 26, as two Belmont High School grads took home national championships at the NCAA Div. III Outdoor Track & Field Championships held at at Ohio Wesleyan University.

Haverford College senior Chris Stadler passed long-time rival and defending champion John Crain of North Central College on the final stretch in the 5,000 meters to win by less than half-a-second, 14 minutes, 11.28 seconds to 14:11.72.Screen Shot 2014-05-28 at 12.18.40 PM

On Thursday, it was Crain who ran away from Stadler to take the 10,000 meter race.

The win was Stadler’s second national championship, having won the 5,000 meters indoors last year. The victory also secured Stadler his eighth All-American certificate and secured his status as the most decorated runner in Haverford history. He was also named the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association Mideast Region Outdoor Athlete of the Year.

Just a few hours earlier, Johns Hopkins University senior Andrew Carey became the first Blue Jay men’s athlete to win an individual event at the NCAA track championships when he won the 800 meters in 1:50.62, ahead of runner-up Mitchell Black (1:51.30) from Tufts.

In the preliminary round, Carey broke his own school record with a time of 1:49.67, the best time posted by any Division III runner this season. Carey became the first two-time All-American in school history as he finished second in the 800 a year ago.

See Carey’s post-championship interview here.Screen Shot 2014-05-28 at 12.14.41 PM

“It’s so fitting to see Andrew’s year end with a national title,” said John Hopkins track coach Bobby Van Allen.

“He put himself in that elite stage and just kept going. His confidence was overwhelming and a large part of his success. I’m ready to see the next chapter in his running career.”

Carey has become the first-ever two-time All-American after finishing second in the 800 meter at the 2014 NCAA Indoor Championships.

Both Belmont High alums’ colleges competed in the Centennial Conference.