Sports
SBU's Van Dalen Finishes Second at Nationals, Named All-American
Native New Zealander is the runner-up in the 1,500; race earns her third All-America nod this year.
In the final race of her career with Stony Brook, one of the track program's most decorated runners put together one of her best performances.
Facing the stiffest competition she has all season at the NCAA Division I Outdoor Track and Field Championships in Des Moines, Van Dalen placed second in the 1,500 meter run with a time of 4:15.33. By placing in the top eight, Van Dalen was named an All-American for the second straight year, and for the third time in the 2010-11 academic year. She also earned All-America accolades for the cross country and indoor track seasons; no track athlete had ever accomplished the trifecta in Stony Brook history.
Van Dalen ran in the middle of the pack for much of the race before pulling in front with Villanova's Sheila Reid, the eventual winner, over the final 200 meters. Reid eventually pulled away, winning the 1,500 (4:14.57) a night after taking first in the 5,000.
Find out what's happening in Three Villagefor free with the latest updates from Patch.
View the entire race as well as post-race comments from Van Dalen here.
