Weitzel Runs Personal Best for 3,000m at USC Invitational

ASICS Greenville Track Club-ELITE's Jason Weitzel ran a personal best of 8:06.49 in placing second in the men's 3,000-meter event on Friday evening at the University of South Carolina Invitational in Columbia, SC. Entering the meet with a PB of 8:12.04, Jason ran in the pack of twelve in the first and fastest heat as he covered the first two laps (400m) in 1:03.29. He was sixth at 1,000m, passed in 2:39.67. After the pacer left the track around 1400m the pace slowed and the 2,000m intermediate time was 5:25.51 with Jason at 5:25.99 in 5th. He responded by increasing the pace with 4 laps (800m) remaining and briefly led. However,  Furman University's Carson Williams retook the lead and won with a time of 8:04.43. Jason's last 1,000m was 2:40.98, including a 30.13 final 200m, when he advanced from fourth to second. 

Jason's performance now ranks second in ASICS GTC-ELITE program history, only behind Austin Steagall's 8:04.45 at Clemson's 2017 Bob Pollock Invitational. 

Pushing the pace with 600m remaining.

Post race with girlfriend, Bailey.

ASICS Greenville Track Club-ELITE was established in 2012. The program produced four qualifiers for the 2016 USA Olympic Trials Marathon in Los Angeles, one qualifier/participant for the 2019 Pam American Games Marathon in. Lima, Peru, three qualifiers/two participants for the 2020 USA Olympic Trials Marathon in Atlanta, GA and one qualifier for and participant in the 2021 USATF Olympic Track & Field Trials in the 3000m Steeplechase. The program's runners set four South Carolina State road race records in 2020 (5K, 15K and Half Marathon--twice) and three (15K, 10-Mile and 20K) in 2021. ASICS GTC-ELITE also produced the South Carolina Men's 2020 Long Distance Runner of the Year. 

​The post-collegiate, Olympic development program is sponsored by ASICS, the 50-year-old Greenville Track Club, Joy Real Estate (Adopt an Athlete partner), The Borch Foundation, generous individual contributors and partnerships with Performance Therapy, Carolina Spine and Rehab, Roll Recovery products, FinalSurge (on-line training log), ElliptiGO, NormaTec Recovery Boots, Cocoa Elite recovery products, Stryd Running, Coach Bob Williams Pace Calculator, the DorsiFlex (stretching device), the MOBO board (balance & mobility), On Pace Wellness (nutrition coaching) and LEVER Movement (treadmill body weight support).  The club is a proud and active member of both the Road Runners Club of America and  USATF.​