Jonathan Seremes led the nation in the men’s triple jump heading into the weekend, but Drew Rogers’ 3,000m crown surprised seemingly everyone but himself.
Drew Rogers stole the race and the show this weekend.
Rogers was in eighth place with a lap and a half left in the men’s 3,000m at the SEC Indoor Championships in College Station. The announcers had barely mentioned his name.
Everyone seemed distracted by the Razorback pack in the front. The Arkansas men were only a few events away from surrendering their team title for the first time in six years to Texas A&M.
But, amidst all the commotion, Rogers locked in.
“With 600m to go, I was still in contention, and I always tell myself if I’m there with 400 to go, I’m winning,” Rogers told ESPN’s John Anderson after he won the race.
He ran nearly 50m in the outside lane to pass and reposition himself before the bell lap.
Rogers’ kick was rhythmic, as if someone gradually fast forwarded through a show at one, two then three times speed.
“(Drew Rogers) is trying to steal the race; this has huge implications for the Razorbacks,” an ESPN broadcaster exclaimed as Rogers tore down the final straightaway.
He strode past a shocked Reuben Reina (Arkansas) to take the title in a school-record setting 7:53.61, the fifth fastest time in the nation this championship weekend.
Rogers is the first Missouri man to win a conference title in the event. He overcame a field that included an SEC Cross Country Champion and an NCAA 10,000m silver medalist.
“All these guys are incredible, so I respected everyone in this race, but I know what I’m capable of,” Rogers said. “I wanted to prove it out there.”
Rogers was one of two Tigers to earn gold at the conference indoor championships.
But his teammate’s title was a little more “expected.”
Jonathan Seremes jumped 16.97m (a personal and facility record) to become the first SEC men’s triple champion in program history.
“He really showed pure domination in the field,” Missouri jumps coach Iliyan Chamov told me afterwards.
Seremes leveled up after each of his first three jumps to hold off the silver and bronze medalists who’ve already qualified for the 2025 World Championships.
But he still has his sights set farther.
“Expecting the NCAA (Indoor) Championship to be even better for him,” Chamov said.
Chamov didn’t name a specific mark, but he emphasized Seremes has a “very high number” he wants to achieve.
“(There’s) probably a little more frustration because we’re very close to the number we’re expecting,” Chamov said.
The collegiate season’s not even halfway over yet.