Daniel DeNijs at DirectAthletics
2015-16: Competed in all seven of VMI's cross country races...had a seasonal best 8K time of 25:21 at the SoCon Championships...finished eighth at the George Mason Invite...book-ended his season by acting as VMI's top runner at both the season-opening Covered Bridge Open and the Regional Championships...indoors, set a new personal best in the 5K at the YSU National Invite (14:51.18)...ranked as the third-best time in school history...was seventh in the 3K at the conference championship with a personal best effort (8:38.23)...also finished 12th in the 5K...outdoors, limited to three meets, but did record a top-10 finish at the Mountaineer Outdoor Open.
2014-15: Had a breakthrough cross country season...finished as VMI's #1 runner on two occasions, the UNCG Spartan Invite (fifth overall) and the WCU Catamount Classic (third overall)...set a new 8K PR of 25:12 during his 17th-place finish at the SoCon Championships...finished in the top-20 of six different events...placed 71st at the SE Regional Championships with a 10K PR of 31:47...earned SoCon Student-Athlete of the Week honors on October 22...finished eighth in the 5K at the SoCon Outdoor Championships, where he also placed 11th in the steeplechase...fourth in the steeple at the Mason Spring Invite, thanks to a new PR of 9:31.82...finished 11th in the 3K and 12th in the 5K at the SoCon Indoor meet...set a new 5K track PR at the YSU Invite, 14:58.32...named to VMI's Elite 18 List, the SoCon Honor Roll and the SoCon All-Academic Team.
2013-14: Took to the XC course twice on the year...was VMI's #5 runner at the VMI Invitational, placing 32nd...posted a new 8K PR at the Charlotte Invite (26:38)...battled injuries during track season and competed in just three meets...was ninth in the 5K at the Liberty Collegiate Invitational.
2012-13: Took part in two cross country events...finished fifth at the season-opening VMI Invitational 5K...placed 23rd in his first collegiate 8K, the JMU Open...saw more action during track season, when he focused on the distance events...finished 13th in the 3K steeple at the Big South Outdoor Championships with a PR of 10:01.17...was fourth in that event at the UNF Invite...indoors, 14th in the 3K at the YSU Invite...won the 3K at the VMI Winter Relays.
High School/Personal: 10th place indoor state in the 3K...Personal bests: 1,600-meters - 4:23.41, 3,200-meters - 9:28.23, 5K (XC) - 15:54.
Personal Bests:
1,500-meters: 4:08.45
3K: 8:38.23 (2016 SoCon Indoor Championships)
3K Steeplechase: 9:31.82 (2015 Mason Spring Invite)
5K: 14:51.18 (2016 YSU National Invite)
8K: 25:12 (2015 SoCon Championships)
10K (XC): 31:47 (2015 SE Regional Championships)
