From Brandeis University Athletics
Two Brandeis University student-athletes represented the Judges on the second day of the 2017 NCAA Division III Outdoor Track and Field Championships at the SPIRE Institute in Geneva, Ohio, today.
Senior Irie Gourde of Portland, Ore., ran for the men in the 400-meter dash. The first male runner to represent the Judges in a sprinting event in at least a decade, Gourde entered the meet as the 11thseed. Running in the first of three heats, Gourde ran a time of 50.06 seconds, finishing seventh in his heat and 18th overall. Gourde joined the team this year as a senior walk-on to finish among the 20 best 400-meter runners in Division III.
"Irie had an incredible year," said head coach Sinead Evans. "He came into my office last August having not run since high school and went on to break a 38-year-old record in the 200 and reach nationals in the 400."
Sophomore Doyin Ogundiran of Dix Hills, N.Y., competed for the women in the 800-meter run. Seeded 14th headed into the meet, Ogundiran also ran in the first heat of her event. After sitting back in the pack through the first 400 meters, she made her move in the second lap, pushing to the front four. She closed the gap in the next 200 meters, but was unable to get into the top two of the heat to earn an automatic berth into the finals. Ogundiran finished fifth in her heat with a time of 2:12.18, the second-fastest time of her career, missing the finals by just under a second-and-a-half and coming in in 16th place overall.
"Doyin ran a great race to cap a brilliant year," Evans said. "She started the season running 2:21 and is now around 2:11 and 2:12. She wasn't intimidated by anyone at this meet and she has two more great years ahead of her.
"We are really proud of both of their seasons and their performances here today."