Singleton among top U20 runners in country at Notre Dame
SOUTH BEND, Ind. — It was only a matter of time — before CJ Singleton dropped his time.
The Butler graduate dropped it in a big way recently, winning the 3,000-meter event at the indoor Notre Dame Invitational. His time of 7 minutes, 53.9 seconds — converting to 8:28.8 in the 3,200 — ranks as one of the best all-time in the United States for an under-20 distance runner. It is also the fourth fastest 3,000-meter run in Notre Dame history.
The run ranks 12th right now in NCAA indoor track.
Singleton is a sophomore with the Fighting Irish. He redshirted his freshman cross country season, but competed in track and field last spring.
“CJ developed into one of the best freshman steeplechase runners in the country last spring,” Notre Dame assistant track and field coach Chris Neal said. “He just missed qualifying for nationals last year.
“This is a very self-motivated athlete and he’s looking phenomenal.”
Singleton’s best event is the steeplechase, a 3,000-meter run that includes hurdles and jumps over water.
“Last year was the first time I ever tried it,” Singleton said of the steeplechase. “I took to it right away. My basketball background helped me in that regard.”
“The steeplechase combines the distance running with athleticism,” Neal said. “CJ was a baseball and basketball player in school besides doing cross country and track. He has plenty of athletic skills and he’s able to incorporate them into that event.”
Singleton said his 3,000-meter time at the Notre Dame Invitational provided him with a bolt of confidence.
“I beat my previous best by 21 seconds,” he said.“No doubt, it’s a big confidence boost. Being one of the younger guys on the track, there’s no pressure on you. I was just out there running free in the race.
“Putting up a time like that ... My goal is to qualify for the NCAA Championships and do something once I get there. This was a big step in that direction.”
Butler boys track and field coach Mike Seybert said Singleton is one of those runners “who goes after the standard once the standard is set.”
The Golden Tornado distance running standard was set by Noah Beveridge, who went on to run at Syracuse. Singleton’s high school career followed Beveridge.
“From eighth grade on, Noah was putting up times in distance running that hadn’t happened here,” Seybert said. “Had those same times been posted at a school on the other side of the state or something, our runners might have figured. ‘well, I can’t do that.’
“When it’s done by somebody in your own school, you feel like, ‘if he can do that, I can do that.’ CJ took that attitude. He’s a tireless competitor, mentally and physically.”
Neal pointed out that distance runner training at the collegiate level is more steady and consistent than that of high school.
“High school is kind of on again, off again, there’s more rest involved,” the Notre Dame coach said. “Here, we’re training constantly. There’s more wear and tear. Athletes have to adjust.”
Singleton credits Butler cross country coach Rick Davanzati for helping him make that transition.
“Coach Davanzati is as good a high school distance coach as there is in the country,” Singleton said. “He set up a program for me to follow before I came to Notre Dame and it definitely helped.
“Yeah, I have big knots on my legs and my body’s beaten up a bit, but he helped me make a nice transition into what to expect here. Now I’m reaping the benefits from that.”
