Martin Fagan ran a 10,000m personal best on the biggest stage, in the most important race of his collegiate career. In front of the more than 5,000 fans in attendance at the Alex G. Spanos Sports Complex in Sacramento, California, Fagan ran 28.41.41 to earn a silver medal at 2006 NCAA Outdoor Championships.

Fagan, who turns 23 in a fortnight, entered the race as the #22 seed but to track aficionados, he was always a threat for a medal.

By race time, which was 8.00 pm, the temperature dropped to 23°C allowing the race to be more than merely a test of survival in the heat as so many NCAA 10k races have been in recent years. Fagan talked about whether the weather was factor, "It was very hot and bright during my warm-up. It was tough but during the half hour before the race, the track became covered in shadows, it cooled off a good bit and there was even a slight breeze."

The large pack of 26 runners toiled through the first lap at 73 seconds. The procession of runners stayed together with the pace picking up a little. The field crossed the 3,000m mark in 8.44.5 with the main players in the race so far being Seth Pilkington (Weber State), Westly Keating (Texas-Pan American) and Wisconsin teammates Stuart Eagon and Simon Bairu. Bairu is the back-to-back NCAA Cross Country Individual Champion and along with Josphat Boit (Arkansas) and the aforementioned Keating, a pre-race favourite.

Eagon, a Wisconsin freshman, led the lead group of about ten runners pass the midway point in a solid time of 14.28 with another group of eight trailing the peleton by about five seconds.

Bairu took over the chores at the front from his ailing teammate. With four kilometres remaining, Boit surged with a 65-second quarter. This gave him a gap of more than 10-metres. His next lap was 66-seconds and this created an insurmountable lead. The move was not a surprise according to Arkansas coach John McDonnell, who said, "I told him anytime after 5k, if the guys around him weren't running that strong, to put the hammer down."

Fagan's reaction to Josphat Boit's definitive surge, "When Boit made his move, we (Simon Bariu and Fagan) chased him for a bit but it was too fast and too soon. I didn't want to jeopardise my chances. Boit is the class of the NCAA's."

Bariu commented, "I fell asleep for a couple seconds there and let [Boit] get away. I didn't think it was over until we crossed the line, though; I thought we could catch him. He ran the perfect race."

With Boit's victory and 10-points to Arkansas all but in the books, the race for second enthralled the stadium. Bariu continued to lead with Fagan running comfortable behind and Arkansas' senior Marc Rodrigues hoping to pick up some for team points for Coach Mac.

With 500 metres to go, a confident Fagan pulled away from Bariu. The strong finishing Mullingar man ran his last lap in 62-seconds which he said after the race, "Felt a lot faster than that." His last kilometre was an impressive 2.39.9 - 13.19.5 5k pace.

An elated Fagan came across the line with his characteristic hand in the air as if he had won. Providence coach Ray Treacy said, "I'm delighted for Martin, he ran a great race."

Fagan discussed the race saying, "They played into my hands. All I had to do was sit in. I was expecting a tighter race, but Boit went so early, it took everyone by surprise."

Fagan who has a habit of leading when he shouldn't, smiled as he remarked on his race plan, "I actually followed the plan! Ray told me, 'Sit in and don't do any work.' He said, 'I was second best over the last mile and that if it came down to that, I'd be fine.' He was right."

There will not be any complaining about getting second from Fagan who said, "I am very pleased. I am very content with second place - I almost feel like I won. I never thought I could finish that high up in the race." The best [place in NCAA Championship] I did before was 16th in Cross Country."

Fagan was not an automatic qualifier and only got a spot on the 10k start after several qualifiers opted out in favour of the 5,000-metre event. Fagan preferred the 10k but had qualified for the shorter race with his third place finish at the East Region race. "I'm just more comfortable in the 10k right now," Fagan admitted.

He explained how he got second despite being seeded 22nd on the performance list, "Not having the qualifying time early like most of the lads in the field kept me hungry. I kept up my mileage, I kept racing and continued my 10k training. Some of the guys that qualified must not have done that. How else do you explain so many not running within thirty seconds of the times they ran in March?"

What's the big difference between the 2006 and 2005 version of Fagan on the track? "This year I can actually finish a race!" Fagan continued, "Last season, the last laps of a race were the worst part. I couldn't finish well. It really isn't anything physical, there are no special workouts. It's an attitude. Now, I believe in myself. Ray [Treacy] also believed I could but this season he convinced me."

Next up for Fagan will be a race with another Arkansas Razorback, Alistair Cragg along with the reigning World Championship 5k Bronze Medallist, Craig Mottram in the 3,000 metres at the Cork City Sports meet on 1st July. With his 10,000m time, he has now qualifed for both the 5k and 10k at the European Championships.

NCAA Men's 10,000m Results: 1) Josphat Boit, Arkansas, 28:37.64; 2) Martin Fagan, Providence, 28:41.41; 3) Simon Bairu, Wisconsin,28:43.37; 4) Seth Pilkington, Weber State, 28:48.17; 5) Marc Rodrigues, Arkansas, 28:49.23; 6) Tim Nelson, Wisconsin, 28:50.34; 7) Rod Koborsi, Georgetown, 28:52.18; 8) Westly Keating, Texas-Pan American, 28:55.73; 9) Stuart Eagon, Wisconsin, 29:16.25; 10) William Macreery, Princeton, 29:21.70