Sign up for Express
New from Palo Alto Online, Express is a daily e-edition, distributed by e-mail every weekday.
Sign up to receive Express!

Login | Register
Sign up for eBulletins
Click for Palo Alto, California Forecast
Palo Alto Online Sports
Increase font Increase font
Decrease font Decrease font
Adjust text size

Run of success for Heath brothers in Europe  

Bookmark and Share
The NCAA season is over and the U.S. Olympic Trials have come and gone, but the Heath brothers continue run.

Former Stanford standouts Elliott Heath and Garrett Heath traveled to Europe this summer to run a series of meets on the European circuit and both have been highly successful running against some of the best athletes in the world.

Garrett graduated in 2009, but has since earned a Master's degree and is pursuing a PhD at Stanford. He has also worked as a volunteer assistant coach for the Cardinal while running professionally for Saucony. His attempt at glory at the U.S Olympic Trials fell just short, but since then Garrett has been busy lowering his personal bests in Europe.

After a series of races in the U.S. and Canada this spring, the older Heath had lowered his PR to 3:36 in the 1,500 meters, running that same time on multiple occasions.

His European tour began in Heusden, Belgium where he placed second in a fast 1,500, running 3:36.65. Later, he moved on to Sparkhaggen, Germany where he ran a tactical race, finishing fourth in 3:38.33. A couple days later, he ran nearly an identical time, but improved to second at the Cappeentanta Games in Kimpinen, Finland. The times were slightly off his personal best, but showed he could mix it up with some top competition in more tactical races.

Later, Garrett move don to a true mile and ran an outdoor personal best of 3:57.18 at the Morton Games in Dublin, Ireland. The race was against an elite field that saw 10 athletes break the four-minute barrier.

Garrett also broke an outdoor personal best in the 3,000 meters in Szczecin, Poland, running a time of 7:51.34 at the Kusoc Meet.

Garrett's younger brother, Elliott, also has been busy earning his first experience on the pro circuit after finishing up his Stanford eligibility during this past indoor season. The former NCAA indoor champion in the 3,000 meters placed seventh at the U.S. Olympic Trials in the 5,000, but has an extremely bright professional career ahead of him.

Elliott began the trip by winning a pair of 1,500-meter heats, first at Kortrijk, Belgium in 3:43.51. Then he set a personal best in the event, running 3:40.17 to win his heat and place second overall at a meet in Nivove, Belgium.

He then moved on to run the mile in Cork, Ireland, finishing with his first sub-four minute mile on the trip at 3:58.48.

The younger Heath's top performance was likely at the Morton Games in Dublin, however, as he ran 7:45.26 to place second and set a personal best in the event. The time lowered his personal best in the event that he was NCAA indoor champ in 2011.

Are you receiving Express, our free daily e-mail edition? See a sample and sign-up for Express.


Comments
There are no comments yet for this story.
Be the first!

If you were a member and logged in you could track comments from this story.
Add a Comment

Posting an item on Town Square is simple and requires no registration! Just complete this form and hit "submit" and your topic will appear online. Please be respectful and truthful in your postings so Town Square will continue to be a thoughtful gathering place for sharing community information and opinion. All postings are subject to our TERMS OF USE, and may be deleted if deemed inappropriate by our staff
 
We prefer that you use your real name, but you may use any "member" name you wish.

Name: *
Select your Neighborhood or School Community: * Not sure?
Choose a category: *
Since this is the first comment on this story a new topic will also be started in Town Square!
Please choose a category below that best describes this story.

Comment: *
Enter the verification code exactly as shown, using capital and lowercase letters, in the multi-colored box. *
Verification Code:   


Best Website
First Place
2009-2012

 

Palo Alto Online   © 2013 Palo Alto Online
All rights reserved.