
McCarthy, Smith Open Indoor Season with Historic Performances
12/2/2023 1:30:00 PM | Track and Field
BOSTON, Mass. — Cal Poly track and field opened its indoor season in historic fashion Saturday at the Sharon Colyear-Danville Season Opener as Aidan McCarthy shattered his own school record in the men's mile and Carson Smith became the third Mustang ever to run a sub-four-minute mile.
McCarthy and Smith were two of three Mustangs that competed in the meet held at Boston University's Track and Tennis Center, widely regarded as one of the fastest indoor track facilities in the world.
Last year on the same track during the BU Last Chance Invite, McCarthy became the first Mustang in program history to run a sub-four-minute mile (3:59.42) indoors or outdoors, and on Saturday he flew past that time with ease. The redshirt junior shaved over three seconds off his personal best with a time of 3:56.09 to obliterate his own school record. The performance allowed McCarthy to place third in the mile, finishing only behind former Washington runner Sam Ellis, a 2022 First Team All-American in the 1,500, and Oregon's Elliott Cook, a 2023 First Team All-American in the indoor mile. McCarthy's mile time would have been good enough to qualify for last year's NCAA Indoor Championships.
This past outdoor season, McCarthy became the first Mustang in 12 years to secure First Team All-American honors by placing seventh in the 800-meter at the NCAA Championships. He also shattered school records in the 800 and 1,500, captured his second straight Big West title in the 800 and became the first Mustang to place first in an event at the NCAA West Preliminaries.
Smith, a sophomore, had an outstanding indoor opener as well, running a mile time of 3:59.41 to place seventh overall and become the third Mustang to run a sub-four-minute mile. Smith was one of four collegiate runners to go sub four minutes at the meet. As a true freshman this spring, Smith took 10th in the 1,500 at the Big West Championships.
Freshman Chris Caudillo was the third Mustang that competed in the meet. The Big West Men's Freshman of the Year in cross country posted a 3,000-meter time of 8:24.45 in his first indoor meet.
Cal Poly continues its indoor season on Saturday, Jan. 13, when a larger contingent of Mustangs head to Seattle to compete in the UW Indoor Preview.
McCarthy and Smith were two of three Mustangs that competed in the meet held at Boston University's Track and Tennis Center, widely regarded as one of the fastest indoor track facilities in the world.
Last year on the same track during the BU Last Chance Invite, McCarthy became the first Mustang in program history to run a sub-four-minute mile (3:59.42) indoors or outdoors, and on Saturday he flew past that time with ease. The redshirt junior shaved over three seconds off his personal best with a time of 3:56.09 to obliterate his own school record. The performance allowed McCarthy to place third in the mile, finishing only behind former Washington runner Sam Ellis, a 2022 First Team All-American in the 1,500, and Oregon's Elliott Cook, a 2023 First Team All-American in the indoor mile. McCarthy's mile time would have been good enough to qualify for last year's NCAA Indoor Championships.
This past outdoor season, McCarthy became the first Mustang in 12 years to secure First Team All-American honors by placing seventh in the 800-meter at the NCAA Championships. He also shattered school records in the 800 and 1,500, captured his second straight Big West title in the 800 and became the first Mustang to place first in an event at the NCAA West Preliminaries.
Smith, a sophomore, had an outstanding indoor opener as well, running a mile time of 3:59.41 to place seventh overall and become the third Mustang to run a sub-four-minute mile. Smith was one of four collegiate runners to go sub four minutes at the meet. As a true freshman this spring, Smith took 10th in the 1,500 at the Big West Championships.
Freshman Chris Caudillo was the third Mustang that competed in the meet. The Big West Men's Freshman of the Year in cross country posted a 3,000-meter time of 8:24.45 in his first indoor meet.
Cal Poly continues its indoor season on Saturday, Jan. 13, when a larger contingent of Mustangs head to Seattle to compete in the UW Indoor Preview.
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