Going the Distance

The last time any Mid-American Conference program swept the top three spots on the podium in the women's 5,000-meter race at the MAC Outdoor Championships was 2016.

In fact, that feat is rare enough that a trio of Miami runners had never accomplished it.

However, that all changed earlier this month as Carmen Riano, Ava Nuttall and Annie Christie finished 1-2-3 in the 5K.

Carmen Riano Ava Nuttall Annie Christie MAC podium — *(L-R): Nuttall, Riano and Christie were each named All-MAC this spring*

Riano crossed the finish line first in Akron, posting a track-record time of 16:17.57. Nuttall was less than five seconds behind her teammate, finishing in 16:22.11. Christie came in third with a mark of 16:38.66, almost seven seconds ahead of the fourth-place contestant.

"We were thinking other people from other teams would hold with us a bit, but no one did," Riano said. "It was kind of cool running by ourselves; it felt like a workout!"

"That was so amazing and so fun," said Nuttall. "I honestly think that was one of my top experiences…it's bigger than yourself when it's your teammates.

"Obviously you want to win as a runner and be number one, but I would rather us go 1-2-3 —in whatever order we come in— than another person be in there with me winning.

"I think it showed that running really is a team sport, because we were working together to be in those top three positions…it made the race so much more fun to have my teammates right up there with me pushing me on."

Head coach Tom Chorny said that while a single team will occasionally capture the top three places in a given event at the conference championships, the 5,000-meter run is an especially difficult race to sweep.

"I think that's the hardest event to do it in because it's at the end of the meet," Chorny said. "Typically, everybody in the race has probably run one race before then, so the variability is just so much higher…

"I knew we had a chance to do it, but when you have somebody coming back after a 10K a couple days earlier [Nuttall], and then a steeple the day before [Riano], or in Annie's case she raced already that day [the 1,500], you really don't know how it's going to play out...

Ava Nuttall and Annie Christie at MAC Outdoor Championships — Christie (R): "You go through really difficult and mentally
exhausting workouts with these people and you just
know how much they've put in…so going into
these races you just want each other to do well."

"To have the women step up in the 5K, I thought that was pretty amazing."

Christie said the 5,000 meters in Akron was one of the most grueling races she's ever faced. "Having to double back after the 1,500 only two and a half hours later, that race was super difficult," she said. "But we really wanted to sweep that race and we knew we could, so we all went in with that goal. We knew our best shot was just to take the race out fast. That's what we did, and nobody ended up following us.

"The top three was pretty solidified from the start…it was cool crossing the line with the three of us. Just an awesome feeling!"

The trio of RedHawks credit training together for helping each of them improve, both during the year and through their careers to date. "It makes workouts and training so much more effective, because instead of just running by yourself, you have people that you're competing against," said Nuttall.

"You're pushing each other to be the very best you can be, but it's also so supportive because every day that you show up, each of you is wanting to help the other achieve a goal that you also have. It's a big motivator."

"There are studies about the training group effect: By being with other runners of an equal caliber, everyone excels together," Chorny explained. "Last year, we had both Ava and Carmen, where Annie was dealing with some injuries and so she wasn't quite at the same level. This year, Annie's been able to work out right with them, so it's really strengthened the group. I think it definitely played a role."

Annie Christie MAC Championships — *Christie took second in the 1500 and third in the 5K at MACs*

All three distance runners, along with Charlie Harders on the men's side, have qualified for the NCAA Division I Track and Field East Preliminaries in Jacksonville, Fla. this weekend. Each student-athlete will be competing in a single specialty event: Riano in the 3,000m steeplechase, Nuttall in the 10K, and Christie in the 5K.

While Harders (steeplechase), Riano, and Nuttall all participated in the East Prelims a year ago, this will be Christie's first trip to the regionals. "That was my main goal for this season, so it was super exciting for me," said the sophomore Political Science/Sociology major from Carmel, Ind.

"I'm just really thankful to have teammates like Carmen and Ava that push me in workouts and races. Since I was injured pretty much all of last year, coming into this season I really didn't know where I was going to be.

"Having those two there to push me and encourage me to keep going has been really nice."

Riano, the program record-holder and two-time MAC champion in the steeplechase, will be looking to make a return trip to the national championships after earning Second Team All-American honors a year ago with her 14th-place finish.

"I don't think that she has come anywhere close to reaching her potential yet," Chorny said of his junior star. The Biomedical Engineering major from Peralta, Spain has battled injuries this season but still garnered First Team All-MAC honors in cross country, indoor track and outdoor track while continuing to rewrite the record books (including winning the individual MAC cross country championship last October).

Carmen Riano MAC steeplechase 2023 — *Riano won the 5K and steeple at MACs for the second straight year*

"It helps you appreciate when you're healthy," Riano said. "It's amazing running now with no pain."

Of the three RedHawks in their signature events, Nuttall produced the top mark of the season. She owns the 11th-fastest time on the 10K prelims list (a 33:10.75 at the Raleigh Relays this March), later going on to claim the MAC title in that same event and set a new track record in the process. The junior Biology/Premed major from Rochester, Minn. is also the newest to the sport of the three Red and White standouts. She competed in figure skating up until graduating from high school and didn't really pick up running as a true passion until the COVID pandemic.

"I didn't do track in high school, only cross country," Nuttall said. "When COVID happened, I was bored, so I started running more. The rinks were completely closed, and I was used to skating about six hours a day, so I had nothing to do!"

Nuttall eventually turned down an offer to join Disney on Ice and decided to pursue collegiate running instead (missing out on her dream role of Rapunzel in the process!). "While the sport of skating is beautiful and I love it, it just wasn't for me anymore," she said. "Running was something I truly loved. It became my new passion."

Ava Nuttall at MAC Outdoor Championships — *Besides her 5K runner-up finish at MACs, Nuttall ran away from the 10K field*

And the rest is history.

While each of the Miami runners hopes to continue making history this weekend on their own, they also look forward to cheering on and supporting the teammates (and friends) they've trained alongside all year toward achieving their respective postseason goals.

"I look up to both of them so much," Nuttall said. "They just have this mental power to push through and work so hard, and it's amazing to be able to train with them. And they're just beautiful, wonderful people: Amazing, supportive teammates and the sweetest people you'll ever meet. And so strong, which makes them amazing at running as well."

"They are special people," Riano agreed. "Sometimes people can run fast, but if you're not a good person at the end of the day, that is what matters. It's just really nice to be around them and have them as friends…

"I have never met people that work as hard and love this sport as much as they do…I just hope they have really good races and can make it to nationals."

Find more Front Row Features at: MiamiRedHawks.com/FrontRowFeatures.

The RedHawks will compete at the NCAA East Prelims from May 25-27. Links to watch the races on ESPN+ each day and follow the live results online are available on the schedule page at MiamiRedHawks.com.

Players Mentioned

Annie Christie

Charles Harders

Ava Nuttall

Carmen Riano