Richardson Shows His Speed, Runs Fastest 1,500 by Viking since 2001 at Oregon Twilight

A pandemic and two trials in the steeplechase made for a long-awaited 1,500-meter debut for Portland State's super senior Tom Richardson. Friday marked Richardson's chance to finally show his stuff in the event, however, and the transfer from Boise State didn't disappoint.

Richardson placed second in his heat of the McChesney 1,500 meters at the Oregon Twilight, finishing in a personal-best time of 3:48.39. The sixth-year senior moved up steadily throughout the race, going from 10th through the first 300 meters to fifth entering the bell lap. Richardson passed three more runners in the final 400 meters as he closed in 57.66 seconds.

No Viking had run a 1,500-meter race as fast as Richardson since Jeremy Park set the school record at 3:45.89 in 2001. Richardson surpassed Luke Ramirez as the Vikings' fastest 1,500-meter runner since Park. Ramirez finished the 1,500 at the OSU High Performance Meet in 3:50.77, which had been the fastest time by a Viking since 2004 before Richardson's finish Friday.

Richardson now ranks fourth all-time in the 1,500 meters at Portland State, joining Park, Mike Mahoney and Dave Henderson as the only four Vikings to crack 3:50 in the event.

Andy Solano also ran the 1,500 meters at the Frank Haskins Invite Thursday, and shaved four seconds off his seasonal best while finishing in 4:28.55. Margot Desmond also made her PSU debut at the meet, finishing the women's side of the 1,500 meters in 5:10.81.

Richardson's strong 1,500-meter debut as a Viking should give him confidence going into next week's Big Sky Outdoor Championships in Ogden, Utah. The meet begins Wednesday, May 12, with the first event for the Vikings coming Friday, May 14.

Frank Haskins Invite
Stoffer Family Stadium
Newberg, Ore.
May 6, 2021

Women's Results:
1,500m: 7. Margot Desmond, 5:10.81.

Men's Results:
1,500m: 14. Andy Solano, 4:28.55.

Oregon Twilight
Hayward Field
Eugene, Ore.
May 7, 2021

Men's Results:
McChesney 1,500m: 24. Tom Richardson, 3:48.39.

Portland Twilight
Eldon Fix Track
Portland, Ore.
May 8, 2021

Women's Results:
5,000m: Cayla Seligman, DNF.

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