Hillsdale Wide Track Classic + Meyo Invitational
‘Twas Saturday, January 25, 2025, a day of particular significance for the Notre Dame Running Club. ‘Twas the day they would make the 92-mile trek up to Hillsdale College to compete in their annual Wide Track Classic. In his first meet with the club, jolly Irishman Jack O’Connell long-jumped a stunning 5.27m (with no warm-up, mind you) for 28th place. Next up was the queen of all track events, the indoor 5000m. Ingrid Corpus started the running events off with a 19:44.93 for 4th place. On the men’s side, President Fryer lapped every single runner to run 15:44.19 for the solo win. Winston Fairchild followed in 16:50.65 for 4th.
Next up were the milers. Hannah Walsh represented the women, running 6:14.96 for 33rd. In spite of unfortunate seed time complications, Zach Wrobel managed to concoct a 4:55.67 performance, placing 34th. Following closely was Matthew Crow in 4:58.18 for 37th. Jonathan Karr had a stellar race, running 5:51.54 for 62nd.
Jack O’Connell decided it might be fun to do a second event, so he dropped a psychotomimeticly fast 400m in a time of 54.41 for 12th place. In the 800m, Elena Rossen ran a mind-shattering 2:24.83 for 3rd place and a new club record. Ryan Soenen nearly broke the sound barrier with his 800m race, running 2:07.78 for 18th.
While the rest of the team was playing Uno, Owen Donaher and Jack Whitman were preparing to continue Run Club’s dominant streak, and when the time to race finally came, they did not disappoint. Owen Donaher ran 9:13.01 to become yet another Run Club 1st place finisher. Jack Whitman wasn’t far behind, running 9:41.14 for 6th.
Last but not least was the men’s 4x400m. With joyful spirits and weary legs, Jack O’Connell (he keeps showing up), Winston Fairchild, Zachariah Wrobel, and Ryan Soenen ran a show-stopping 3:53.99, which - had it all been one person - would have been the 363rd fastest mile of all time.
That was a great meet, but wait… we’re not finished yet. I know what you’ve all been thinking: where was Pete Heesters? Well, ladies and gentlemen, he was running exclusively flat routes, saving every last ounce of his energy to run a gob-smackingly perfect 14:26.46 5000m at Notre Dame’s Meyo Invitational for 13th place overall. He beat runners from Ohio State, Iowa, Michigan State, Central Michigan, Loyola Chicago, and more. This was an all-time great club performance, and all of us present knew we were witnessing history.
In light of the recent tragedy of the cancellation of the Mrs. G Invite, the Notre Dame Running Club looks ahead to competing at another meet at GVSU on Saturday, February 8th.
Go Irish, and stay frosty.
Post by: Winston Fairchild
Photos by: Winston Fairchild and Jonathan Karr
© 2025 Notre Dame Running Club (runclub@nd.edu)