
Thomas Ratcliffe set a school record and earned All-America honors in the 5000 meters.
Photo by: Rick Morgan
Ratcliffe Sets School Record In 5000m
June 11, 2021 | Track & Field
EUGENE, Ore. – Graduate student Thomas Ratcliffe placed seventh in the men's 5000 meters at the NCAA Outdoor Track & Field Championships on Friday evening, turning in a school-record run to earn first-team All-America honors. He's the highest UNC finisher in that event at NCAA Championships since Jim Farmer took fourth in 1988.
Ratcliffe's time of 13:20.88 smashed the previous UNC record of 13:32.50 (Ralph King, 1977) and also qualified him for the upcoming Olympic Trials.
Teammate Conor Lundy placed 18th in 13:39.67, a personal best.
The two wrapped up Tar Heel competition at the NCAA Championships. A total of seven UNC student-athletes competed, with Ratcliffe and Jill Shippee earning first-team All-America honors and Madison Wiltrout second-team honors.
The record-breaking championship performance was the second of the spring for Ratcliffe, who earned indoor All-Amreica honors part of UNC's DMR team at NCAA Indoor Championships in March.
UNC at the 2021 NCAA Outdoor Championships
Women's Hammer Throw
3. Jill Shippee, 69.42m (227-9)
Women's Javelin
16. Madison Wiltrout, 51.56m (169-2)
Men's Shot Put
18. Daniel McArthur, 18.06m (59-3)
Men's 1500m
Semifinals
18. Brandon Tubby, 3:41.33
21. Jesse Hunt, 3:44:43
Men's 5000m
7. Thomas Ratcliffe, 13:20.88
18. Conor Lundy, 13:39.67
Ratcliffe's time of 13:20.88 smashed the previous UNC record of 13:32.50 (Ralph King, 1977) and also qualified him for the upcoming Olympic Trials.
Teammate Conor Lundy placed 18th in 13:39.67, a personal best.
The two wrapped up Tar Heel competition at the NCAA Championships. A total of seven UNC student-athletes competed, with Ratcliffe and Jill Shippee earning first-team All-America honors and Madison Wiltrout second-team honors.
The record-breaking championship performance was the second of the spring for Ratcliffe, who earned indoor All-Amreica honors part of UNC's DMR team at NCAA Indoor Championships in March.
UNC at the 2021 NCAA Outdoor Championships
Women's Hammer Throw
3. Jill Shippee, 69.42m (227-9)
Women's Javelin
16. Madison Wiltrout, 51.56m (169-2)
Men's Shot Put
18. Daniel McArthur, 18.06m (59-3)
Men's 1500m
Semifinals
18. Brandon Tubby, 3:41.33
21. Jesse Hunt, 3:44:43
Men's 5000m
7. Thomas Ratcliffe, 13:20.88
18. Conor Lundy, 13:39.67
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