Rust, Levine change up team history book in 3,000 and 5,000 at BU

Bart Rust became the fourth-fastest indoor 3,000-meter runner in Bates history on Feb. 15, 2020, at Boston University. (File photo by Samuel Mironko '21 for Bates College)

BOSTON -- Bates sophomore Bart Rust ran the fastest indoor 3,000 meters by a Bobcat since 1986 on Saturday, highlighting the David Hemery Valentine Invitational at Boston University.

Rust (Croton on Hudson, N.Y.) won his section of 19 runners in the 3,000 with a time of 8:27.27, third fastest among all Division III runners in the event. It eclipsed Rust's personal record time by 22.44 seconds, and moves him onto Bates' all-time top 10 list in the event, sliding just ahead of Thomas Rooney's 1981 time of 8:27.28. All three runners ahead of Rust on the list hail from the 1980s: James Goodberlet in 1985 (8:19.55), Paul Hammond in 1982 (8:20.36), and John Fitzgerald in 1986 (8:25.84).

Several strong marks and personal records qualified athletes to compete at later championship meets. Notable performances by the Bobcats included:

Senior Justin Levine (Boca Raton, Fla.) moved onto Bates' all-time top 10 list at eighth place in the 5,000 meters, with his time of 14:41.66.
First-year Eli Boesch-Dining (Concord, N.H.) ran the 5,000 in 15:07.15.
First-year Mayo Smith (Westport, Conn.) qualified for New England D3's in the 5,000 meters with a time of 15:07.75.
Junior Alex Brovender (Boxford, Mass.) set a personal record by 14 seconds in the 5,000 (15:35.91).
Junior John Rex (Andover, Mass.) threw 56'1.25" in the weight throw.
Sophomore John Everett (Winchester, Mass.) launched an impressive shot put of 44'11.75".
Sophomore John Mieszczanski (Chelmsford, Mass.) recorded a four-second PR in the 800 meters of 1:56.25, qualifying for New England D3's.
First-year Daniel McConnell (Califon, N.J.) had a personal-record time of 1:59.08 in the 800.
Senior Gabe Benson (Maplewood, N.J.) had a PR in the 800 (2:00.66).
First-year Ezra Parkhill (San Francisco, Calif.) had a PR in the 800 (2:00.07).
First-year Owen Glover (Andover, Mass.) qualified for New England D3's in the 500 meters with a PR of 1:07.15.
Junior Elijah Coyne (Newtown, Pa.) had a personal record time of 1:07.64 in the 500 meters.
Senior captain Anas Reda (Casablanca, Morocco) had a personal-record time of 23.53 seconds in the 200-meter dash.
Sophomore Jackson Elkins (South Deerfield, Mass.) qualified for New England D3's in the 1,000 meters (2:36.01).
Junior Ryan Nealis (London, England) qualified for New England D3's in the mile (4:16.04).