June 9, 2012

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DES MOINES, Iowa -- The finish line at Drake Stadium may turn out to be a starting point for Rob Finnerty

The Wisconsin junior continued his late-season surge by closing his collegiate season with an impressive run in the final of 1500 meters Saturday at the 2012 NCAA Outdoor Championships.

Employing the finishing kick that has served him well over the past few weeks, Finnerty closed out a fifth-place finish in a time 3 minutes, 44.53 seconds to secure All-America honors in his first NCAA championships competition.

"It feels great," Finnerty said. "I didn't think I was going to win it today with the finish those guys have, but I'm so happy. Fifth at Big Tens and now fifth at NCAAs.

"I've come on pretty strong in the last month or month-and-a-half and it feels good to be able to kick like that."

Finnerty positioned himself well early in the race and ran fourth at the bell. BYU's Miles Batty then made his move to the front with just over 200 meters to go, turning the race into a sprint to the finish.

Indiana's Andy Bayer answered the move with a kick of his own, following Batty to the front and out-leaning him for the win by just one-hundredth of a second in 3:43.82. Batty's dive across the line registered at 3:43.83.

Once Finnerty found room to run, he spread out as part of a five-wide race down the homestretch. He covered the final 400 meters in 54.36.

"I think we started moving a little bit before the bell, but I think the big move came with about 250 to go when Batty took off and Bayer went with him," Finnerty said. "Unfortunately, I fell asleep for a half-second and got caught on the inside.

"The guy in front of me wasn't going with it, so I tried to get out and go around him, but I just didn't have enough left."

Finnerty became Wisconsin's 10th All-American in the event all-time, earning the Badgers' seventh All-America honor in the event over the past five seasons.

"I knew I was in much better shape than I was the past couple of years, but It's unfamiliar territory at this point," Finnerty said. "I was a little surprised by it."

"I think this shows that, if I can get an even somewhat healthy stretch, I can compete with these guys."

He will get another chance to compete Wednesday at an American Milers Club High Performance Series event in Indianapolis. The goal is to run under the automatic qualifying standard of 3:39.00 for the USA Olympic Trials.

"I definitely know I'm in shape and ready for that time, it's just a matter of getting in a race that time trials a little," Finnerty said. "Unfortunately we didn't run it today, I thought it might be a little faster, but who cares about time today?"

The performance should lift a weight from the shoulders of Finnerty, who has battled various injuries since coming to Wisconsin as a heralded high school All-American.

"I think this is just a starting point," Finnerty said. "I've only got one season left, but I'm really ready to make it count and go after the title next year.
    
"I went after it today, it just wasn't in the making," he added. "Next year, I'll be ready, I just have to stay healthy."