VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. – In a blink of an eye the finish to one of the most memorable men's 200-meter dash took place here Saturday evening at the 2024 NCAA Division III Indoor National Championships at the Virginia Beach Sports Center.
Gallaudet University All-American senior sprinter
Eric Gregory (Metairie, La.) leaned at the finish line while University of Wisconsin-La Crosse junior Sam Blaskowski screamed and ran up right through the finish. The duo ran sub-21 seconds and posted the second and third fastest times in NCAA Division III history.
"I felt great about the race. I had a great start and felt good coming out of the blocks," said Gregory after the race. "I held on the entire race and was right there with Sam [Blaskowski]."
Unfortunately for Gregory he was three one-thousandths of a second behind Blaskowski's time of 20.93 seconds. Gregory's time of 20.96 is a new personal best time, a GU school record and a new USA Deaf Track and Field record.
"I felt like I could've finished better. If it was a different day and different time there might have been a different result," added Gregory.
Gregory's previous best time of 21.16 was set at last year's NCAA Indoor National Championships in the final in Birmingham, Ala., at the Birmingham CrossPlex. Blaskowski and Gregory finished second and third at last year's national championship with identical times of 21.16 seconds as Blaskowski's official time was 21.154 compared to Gregory's 21.157. Ramapo College of New Jersey senior Cheickna Traore won the 2023 event with a Division III all-time record time of 20.72 seconds.
Gregory's eight team points gives Gallaudet the highest finish (tied for 27th place) they have ever had at a NCAA indoor track and field championship. UW-La Crosse won the men's national championship with 74 team points.
"What can I say, Eric ran a personal best time. It was an amazing race against two power sprinters," said Gallaudet coach
Byron Moore. "It is thrilling to watch Eric every single time as he improves and breaks his own records. I haven't coached an athlete of his caliber before, so it is a true honor and privilege to be his coach. I look forward to seeing what he can do during the outdoor season."
Gregory is now a five-time All-American (twice in the 200-meter dash indoors) and a two-time national champion (400-meter dash outdoors).
UP NEXT
This concludes the 2023-24 Gallaudet University men's indoor track and field season.
