ROCHESTER, N.Y. – Announced prior to the gun as the "deepest 5000-meter field ever assembled" at the Division III level, Cornell's Isaac vanWestrienen was right there at the end to capture his first all-America medal.
 
VanWestrienen hung close to the lead pack most of the way and crossed fifth in a star-studded 20-man field Friday afternoon at the NCAA Indoor Track & Field Championships inside Golisano Training Center.
 
Cornell's junior distance star finished the race in 14:16.73. VanWestrienen improved his position by one place with a quick 31.84 split on the final lap.
 
VanWestrienen became Cornell's first men's indoor all-American since 2017, when Charles Zilaitis doubled in the shot put (sixth) and weight throw (eighth).
 
The last Ram to place in the top eight at NCAA indoors in a men's running event was Kirkwood Donavin in 2011 (third, mile).
 
VanWestrienen, who took 18th in last year's 5000 at nationals, got out quick and stayed in the No. 5-7 positions throughout the 25 laps. He beat returning all-American Gunner Schlender of UW-Whitewater by 1.50 seconds.
 
UW-La Crosse's Grant Matthai was crowned champion in 14:02.76. Emmanuel Leblond of Johns Hopkins placed second (14:08.64) and defending champion Christian Patzka of UW-Whitewater was third (14:10.32). UW-La Crosse's Aidan Matthai, a 2024 all-American, finished fourth (14:14.25).
 
Friday's elite 5000 field featured six qualifiers that had run 14:03 or faster this season, including Westrienen (14:00.49).
 
VanWestrienen carries momentum into Saturday's 3000-meter run, which is scheduled for 4:40 p.m. (Central time). He holds the sixth-fastest qualifying time.