Last Chance National Qualifier at BU
McCarthy Runs Fastest Indoor 800 by an American in Collegiate History
3/2/2025 6:00:00 PM | Track and Field
BOSTON, Mass. — Aidan McCarthy is the fastest American in collegiate history in the men’s indoor 800-meter.
The Pleasanton, Calif. accomplished that historic feat and many more during an unbelievable performance at the Last Chance National Qualifier hosted by Boston University on Sunday at the BU Track and Tennis Center.
Looking to solidify a trip to the NCAA Indoor Championships, McCarthy did much more than that, laying down one of the most impressive performances in NCAA history in the men’s indoor 800.
McCarthy posted an over one second all-conditions (indoor or outdoor) personal best of 1:45.19 — the fastest indoor 800 time ran by an American in collegiate history and the best ran in the NCAA this season. It’s also the third fastest indoor 800 time in collegiate history, only trailing Kenyans Paul Ereng (1989) and Michael Saruni (2018). Ereng was a two-time NCAA champion (1988, 1989) in the 800 while competing for the University of Virginia and was the 1988 Olympic champion in the event. Saruni was the 2018 NCAA indoor 800 champion and qualified for the 2020 Olympics.
You’re looking at the fastest American collegian EVER in the men’s indoor 800-meter ??
— Cal Poly TF/XC (@CalPolyTrack_XC) March 2, 2025
Aidan McCarthy just made history in Boston, running an NCAA lead in the men’s 800 and the third fastest collegiate time ever (1:45.19)!! Oh yeah, it’s also a BU facility record ??#RideHigh?? pic.twitter.com/cGJfQCBZmL
NCAA LEAD!
— FloTrack (@FloTrack) March 2, 2025
Aidan McCarthy of @CalPolyTrack_XC PRs by over a full second to set a NCAA lead and BU facility record of 1:45.19 in the men's 800m at the Last Chance National Qualifier.#BULastChance pic.twitter.com/tIMBcE5JJ7
McCarthy’s time of 1:45.19 surpassed the BU facility record as well, bettering Georgetown’s Tinoda Matsatsa previous record of 1:45.21 which he set just two weeks ago at the David Hemery Valentine Invitational.
With the sensational showing Sunday, McCarthy punched his ticket to the 2025 NCAA Indoor Track & Field Championships which will be held on March 14-15 at the Virginia Beach Sports Center. McCarthy is Cal Poly’s first NCAA indoor national qualifier since Sharon Day-Monroe in 2008 (women’s high jump) and the first on the men’s side for the Mustangs since Reynaldo Brown (men’s high jump) in 1973.
McCarthy is no stranger to the national stage as nearly two years ago at the 2023 NCAA Outdoor Championships the phenom placed seventh in the 800-meter to become the first Mustang in 12 years to secure First Team All-American honors. McCarthy is the current school record holder in the indoor and outdoor 800, the mile and the 1,000.
Graduate student Chase Walter, the current school record holder in the men’s indoor 400 and 600, paced McCarthy’s historic run on Sunday, peeling off the track at the 600-meter mark.
Spencer Pickren also competed in Boston on Sunday, running in the men’s mile. The two-time NCAA West Preliminaries qualifier in the outdoor 1,500 capped off a strong indoor season by posting a personal best of 3:56.49, improving upon his second best in school history.
Besides McCarthy, the indoor season is over for the Mustangs. Cal Poly opens its outdoor track and field season this coming Friday at the Ben Brown Invite Distance Classic hosted by Cal State Fullerton and at Fresno State’s Bulldog Invite on Saturday.
