Weitzel Wins 5,000 at Lee Last Chance Meet

Jason Weitzel winning the 5,000.

ASICS Greenville Track Club-ELITE's Jason Weitzel ran 14:07.1 to win the 5,000 meters on Saturday night at the Lee University Last Chance Meet in Cleveland, TN. With the temperature cooling somewhat from the late afternoon high in the mid-80s, to a more comfortable 69 degrees at the 9:20 pm start, the race was an opportunity for many collegiate athletes to obtain their qualifying marks for upcoming NCAA championships. However, the humidity also rose to 88 percent after sundown making the conditions somewhat more difficult.

Jason ran in the chase pack for most of the race as the pacer led a couple of runners at the intended pace of 13:50. However, once the pacer dropped out, the leader began to slow and Weitzel caught him with about 500 meters remaining. Jason closed well with a final 400 at 1:03.07. His winning margin grew to almost five seconds. 

"I thought the race was a little slower tonight than the previous one here in April for some reason--probably being warmer," he stated following the race. Jason had run 14:05.29 here on April 8th. "I'm pleased with being able to win, though."

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.​