2016 Meyo Invitational

Molly Seidel Will Make Indoor Debut at Meyo Invite

Molly Seidel Will Make Indoor Debut at Meyo Invite

The 2016 Notre Dame Meyo Invitational will be streamed LIVE on FloTrack Friday and Saturday and this year the ladies are bringing the heat. NCAA Champion Mo

Feb 4, 2016 by Meg Bellino
Molly Seidel Will Make Indoor Debut at Meyo Invite
The 2016 Notre Dame Meyo Invitational will be streamed LIVE on FloTrack Friday and Saturday and this year the ladies are bringing the heat. NCAA Champion Molly Seidel will take on Michigan All American Erin Finn, while Leah O'Connor will make her 2016 mile debut against Canadian World Indoor Bronze medalist Nicole Sifuentes in the prestigious "Meyo Mile."

WATCH THE MEYO INVITATIONAL LIVE!

Molly Seidel's Season Debut Will Be Heated 3000m Contest Against Midwest Rival Erin Finn


Two-time NCAA Champion Molly Seidel will open her 2016 track season in the women’s invitational 3000m against Michigan All American Erin Finn and 2013 U.S. steeplechase champion Nicole Bush.

Seidel is coming off winning the NCAA XC Championship over Allie Ostrander by 5 seconds. She had a nearly flawless cross country season, only losing once to Ostrander at the prestigious adidas Wisconsin Invite. Her 3000m best of 9:10 comes from her ACC indoor victory in 2015, but Seidel really did not burst into the spotlight until her 10000m victory in June. Her move to the front and commanding win were a surprise to some, but for Seidel, she was simply “going.”



What will Seidel do against Finn? Finn already has a converted 9:08 (9:13 on a 200m flat track) and 4:40 mile to her name this winter, so the wheels are moving. Though Finn’s time is probably good enough to qualify for the NCAA Championships already, a chance to run faster and compete with *the* woman of NCAA distance running at the moment will likely make this the cannot miss event of the Meyo Invitational.

Leah O'Connor: The Rust Is Busted, Let's See Some Fast Miles!


Former Michigan State-turned-adidas athlete Leah O'Connor will race the mile against Canadian Olympian Nicole Sifuentes. For both O'Connor and Sifuentes, this race will serve as a springboard into big events in the coming weeks. O'Connor is slated to run the mile in the Millrose Games, while Sifuentes is gearing up for an IAAF World Indoor Championships qualifier and a spot on the Canadian team. So far this season, both have contested in one 3000m race. Sifuentes finished runner-up to Kim Conley at the UW Preview in 9:05, while O'Connor "busted rust" in a solo 8:59 (paced by training partner Bush) at Grand Valley State University.



O'Connor's PB of 4:27 is a hair faster than Sifuentes' 4:28, and both have impressive times when they move up from the mile, as well (O'Connor's steeple best is 9:31, Sifuentes' 5000m is 15:19), making this race an excellent match-up.

Men's Meyo Mile: How Many Sub-4s Will Go Down?


Last year no men broke 4:00 for the first time in a LONG time in the prestigious "Meyo Mile." In 2014, 3 men ran under four minutes and we have the video to prove it.



So who will it be this year? Michigan All American Mason Ferlic is fresh off a 4:01 mile at the Commodore Invitational on January 15. Ferlic, an accomplished steeplechaser and 5000m runner, will likely not contest the mile at the NCAA Championships. So what better opportunity than now to attempt sub-4?

Indiana's Rorey Hunter and Butler's Erik Peterson will take their shot at a Meyo Mile title, as well. Hunter's PB of 4:00 (3:40 for 1500m) is begging to be slashed and Peterson, 12th in this fall's NCAA XC Championships, has run 4:07. But when the thundersticks get going during the event, anything is possible in the Meyo Mile.