Cornellian Advances to NCAA Track Championship In Final Stretch of East Regionals Qualification Race

In the final 100 meters of the qualifying 1500m race, senior Damian Hackett was in seventh place — just two spots behind securing a spot at the National Collegiate Athletics Association’s Championship in Eugene, Oregon.  

But Hackett’s strategy in the race was to start conservatively and work his way through the pack as the race progressed. With 400 meters left, he was in sixth place, just one spot away from qualifying. 

“It’s not always my strategy,” Hackett said. “In that situation, it was better to see the whole race rather than being passed.”

Hackett gathered speed and made a push from seventh to fourth place to earn an automatic qualification to the NCAA championship in Oregon. He has demonstrated this qualifying speed numerous times this season, but most notably during the Raleigh Relays, where he finished with a time of 3.36.78, ranking No. 15 in the nation. 

“The race was a little bit boxed early on, so it was about waiting for an opening and going from there,” Hackett said. 

The race itself was hosted by the University of North Florida, where hundreds of athletes in the East Region competed for spots in the NCAA Championship. 

This will be Hackett’s second time attending the NCAA Outdoor Championship. Last year, Hackett competed in the 1500m and finished at 3:43.34. On Friday, Hackett completed the race with a time of 3:39.67. 

Hackett said that this year was different for him since it was his last year running track at Cornell. 

“It’s more emotional as a senior to know that there is no next year,” Hackett said. “There was a lot to balance even before the meet, like graduation, moving out and saying bye to teammates. But, I think the biggest difference in terms of the race itself is that before, when you get knocked out, you try not to be hard on yourself because you’re still learning. But now, it’s about putting together all that championship experience from the last four years.”

Now, Hackett has nine days before the competition begins. While he won’t be preparing physically with his teammates, he says their support has been a big motivator for him as he finishes his final season with the Red. 

“It’s definitely tricky in the postseason because the whole team aspect isn’t there, but it still plays a big role in my success,” Hackett said. “It means a lot to me that they are still supporting me over the summer, and it's a big source of motivation along with the coaches.”

Hackett will compete at the NCAA Outdoor Track and Field Championship in Eugene, Oregon, at Hayward Field starting on Wednesday, June 11 and running through Saturday, June 14. Coverage of the event will be available on ESPN+.   

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