June 12, 2011
INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. – Freshman Matt Hillenbrand and junior Luis Orta set big personal-best times in the 800-meter and 1,500m run, respectively, at an American Milers Series event in Indianapolis, Ind., on Saturday.
Hosted by the Indiana Invaders at IUPUI, the series focuses on middle distance events, 800m and 1500m runs with the inclusion of 400m and 3000m steeplechase races on selected dates. Race opportunities are specifically designed to serve athletes seeking national and international level qualifying marks with start times for elite sections scheduled after sundown.
Orta, after running the 3,000m steeplechase most of the 2011 outdoor season, finished sixth in the 1,500m run with a career-best time of 3:45.75. The junior had run the 1,500 one time during the season at the Kentuckiana Border Battle in Louisville, Ky., and finished that race with a then personal-best time of 3:48.98. The Venezuela native, is just outside of the USA qualifying standard of 3:45.00 in the 1,500m run.
After making the finals in the 1,500m run at his first Southeastern Conference Outdoor Championships, Hillenbrand continued improving with a personal-best time in the 800m run, by more than a second, at the American Milers Series event. The freshman finished 15th in the 800m run with a career-best time of 1:50.83 and looks to continue that improvement as he heads to Eugene, Ore., for the USA junior championships June 23-26.
Freshman teammate Adam Kahleifeh will also be making the trip to Eugene but in the 1,500m run. Kahleifeh holds a season-best mark in the 1,500m run of 3:55.72, which he set at the Payton Jordan Invite on May 1. The freshman ran the 800m in Indianapolis and finished 23rd with a career-best time of 1:53.65. Hillenbrand and Kahleifeh may run both the 800m and 1,500m run at the USA junior championships.
Also in action at the American Milers event was Josh Nadzam, who finished 16th in the 1,500m run with a time 3:38.36.
For continuous updates, follow the Kentucky track and field team on Twitter @Kentuckytrack and on UKathletics.com.
American Miler’s Club Series Results
Men’s 800m Run
15. Hillenbrand, Matt – 1:50.83
23. Kahlefeh, Adam – 1:53.65
Men’s 1,500m Run
6. Orta, Luis – 3:45.75
16. Nadzam, Josh – 3:48.36
