Dustin Emerick, a junior at the University of Southern Indiana, never won a state title in high school for track and field. On Friday, he ran the 13th fastest time in the world in 2011 for 10,000 meters.
At the Mt. San Antonio College Relays in California, Emerick eclipsed the 10,000 meter distance in a new school record time of 28 minutes and 41 seconds besting the previous mark by 12 seconds.
That mark makes him the 9th fastest of all time in Division II and currently the 3rd fastest across all Divisions at that distance for collegiate track and field.
“I knew going in he could run somewhere maybe in the mid to low 28:50’s,” Coach Mike Hillyard said. “I would have never thought that 28:41 was anywhere near the realm of possibility.”
Hillyard said, though, that sometimes in a race situation similar to the one that resulted in the fast time, an athlete gets to the halfway point and they are still in it. Then they get to 2 miles remaining and they are contending for the win and that becomes enough to pull them to a breakout performance.
Emerick took the lead with three laps to go but was unable to hold on for the win. The only people he lost to were professional athletes and a Division I athlete.
Hillyard attributes Emerick’s complete dedication to the sport as the main reason for his success.
He is completely committed to the goal of being a runner.
“I’ve pushed upwards of 115 miles a week for the last 6 weeks or so,” Emerick said. “I also do 30 minutes of core work a day, get 9 hours of sleep a night and eat well.”
Core work for Emerick consists of a series of plyometric and strengthening exercises. The goal of a core routine is to improve the stabilization muscles and help the runner become more efficient throughout the race and especially at the end.
Eating well on a small budget can be a challenge but Emerick said he does his best.
“I eat pasta and I haven’t had pop since freshmen year of high school except for maybe once or twice.”
Currently the national leader for Division II at the 10,000, Emerick will have a target on his back going into the NCAA Championships. A victory is not assured though.
“Amos Sang from Abilene Christian has yet to run a 10k, but he will be up there,” Hillyard said.
Last year, Sang was the outdoor 5,000 meter champion as well as runner-up in the mile and will pose a threat to Emerick in the final laps of the championship race if they are together.
“Amos Sang is not going to be outkicked,” Hillyard said. “If he’s (Emerick) going to have a chance to win, he can’t let it come down to something late. He’s going to have to do a lot of work at the national meet to have a chance to win the championship.”
Emerick has also qualified for the United States Track and Field Championships that are held in Eugene, Ore., from June 23 to 26. The best athletes in the country compete for USA championship titles in their respective events.
Hillyard said he can see Emerick running low 28 by next year and that he has no doubt the Olympic Trials in 2012 are a possibility.
“28:41 has gotten in in the past,” Hillyard said.
For the 2008 Olympic Trials, 29:00 was the B standard, which is the slowest requirement you can achieve to qualify.
The outdoor track and field championships will take place on May 26 to 28 in Turlock, Calif.
