A week after Texas’ Bizimana sets record with 2:18.10 effort at Rod McCravy Memorial Meet in Louisville, Matsatsa improves standard to 2:18.05 at Virginia Tech, also elevates to No. 8 all-time U.S. competitor after more than seven-second drop

By Erik Boal, DyeStat Editor

Photo courtesy of Georgetown

Brannon Kidder’s reign as the fastest 1,000-meter competitor in NCAA history lasted nearly eight years.

Texas standout Yusuf Bizimana didn’t even get to enjoy eight days as the collegiate record holder.

Georgetown freshman Tinoda Matsatsa ran 2 minutes, 18.05 seconds Friday at the Hokie Invitational at the Rector Field House in Blacksburg, Va., to eclipse the 2:18.10 performance achieved Jan. 12 by Bizimana at the Rod McCravy Memorial Meet in Louisville, Ky.

RESULTS

Bizimana broke the 2016 record of 2:18.26 achieved by Kidder at the Nittany Lion Challenge in Pennsylvania.

Matsatsa ran the final 200 meters in 27.32 seconds, faster than Bizimana’s last lap of 27.75. Bizimana covered the first 800 in 1:50.35, in comparison to a 1:50.73 split for Matsatsa, who elevated to the No. 8 all-time American indoor 1,000 competitor.

Matt Wisner ascended to No. 19 in U.S. indoor 1,000 history by placing second behind Matsatsa in 2:18.86.

Matsatsa, a graduate of St. Andrew’s Episcopal School in Maryland who won the USATF U20 800-meter title along with sweeping New Balance indoor and outdoor 800 crowns as a senior, prevailed in the 1,000 last year at the Virginia Showcase in 2:25.68, which ranks No. 21 in U.S. prep history.

Melissa Riggins, a Georgetown junior, achieved the No. 3 all-time collegiate indoor 1,000 performance by clocking 2:40.67. with senior Lindsey Butler of Virginia Tech running 2:41.0 to equal to the No. 7 all-time NCAA competitor.