Teams: Men's Track & Field: Press Releases

Date: Saturday, May 26, 2001

PATTERSON WINS NCAA DIV. III 3,000 STEEPLECHASE

MEDFORD – Senior David Patterson (Shutesbury, MA) capped a stellar career with the Tufts University men's track team by winning the 3,000 meter Steeplechase at the 2001 NCAA Division III Track & Field Championships on Friday (May 25).

Patterson won in a blazing time of 8:53.74 to set a new stadium record by over 20 seconds at Frank M. Lindsey Field at Milliken University in Decatur, Illinois. It was the tenth best time on the all-time list of Division 3 performances. Patterson's 8:50.70 at the ICAAAA's the week before was the fifth fastest in NCAA Division 3 history.

At Nationals, the race opened with a few younger athletes rushing to the lead with Patterson sitting next to last. As the pack moved into the second lap, he began an easy move down the back straight towards the lead. With a split at the 800 of 2:20.3, Patterson moved into the lead during the next lap and went through the 1600 meters in 4:40.5.

At this point it was a two-man race between Scott Substad of Wisconsin-LaCrosse and Patterson. The two dueled through the next 800 meters in a scorching 2:17.6 that baked the LaCrosse athlete and established a 15-meter lead for Patterson. From there he blasted down the final straightaway to the crescendos of the packed stadium and won by a four-second margin.

Patterson, class of 2001, out of Amherst HS, currently residing in Northfield, is Tufts' second National Champion in the steeplechase, following Mark Herlihy �88, of Winchester, MA. This culminates a fine senior year for Patterson, which included All-American performances at the NCAA cross country championships (10th) and the NCAA Indoor Track Championships (7th in the 1,500 meters). Dave graduated Magna Cum Laude from Tufts with a degree in Environmental Engineering. He captained both the XC and Track teams during his senior campaign.

Dave's parents are William and Joan of Northfield, MA.

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