M-E grad Schaffer quick study in 5K – Press & Sun-Bulletin

Binghamton University’s Dan Schaffer, a Maine-Endwell graduate, speaks about his school-record 5,000-meter time he ran last weekend at Bucknell. Robert Centorani, pressconnects.com

Asked to describe his running style Wednesday at Binghamton University’s Events Center, Maine-Endwell graduate Dan Schaffer opted for the word, “silent.”

Well, this quiet man – on and off the track as his soft-spoken and humble personality suggests — made some noise April 13 at the Bucknell Invitational. There, the BU redshirt sophomore competed in the 5,000 meters for the first time this season outdoors.

The result?

How about a school record of 14 minutes, 11.74 seconds – a time that lopped about nine seconds off the mark set by Ethan Hausamann in 2014 and was 22-plus seconds faster than Schaffer’s personal best.

Has it been mentioned it was Schaffer’s first crack at the 3.1-mile distance this season?

Yeah, positively eye-opening was his fifth-place finish in the 81-man field.

From Schaffer’s perspective, perhaps the best part of the performance that earned him America East Athlete of the Week honors was that it came on April 13, during a time in the season when many distance runners are still bogged down by heavy-mileage workouts.

“When you consider how much training I had for the race this weekend, I’m really optimistic for the rest of the season,” said Schaffer, who placed second in the America East cross country championships in the fall. “I’m excited to see what I can do once I get a few more weeks of training under me, a few more races under my belt.”

The race

Admittedly, Schaffer didn’t have high expectations.

He ran toward the back of the pack early, unassumingly churning 68-second 400s for most of the 12-plus-lap race.

Then it was go time.

Closing with a 2:06 final 800 meters, Schaffer ran the final lap in 62 seconds.

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“It’s a great sign I was able to finish that strongly,” he said. “Hopefully, I can continue to build on that strength and close faster.”

BU assistant track and head cross-country coach Annette Acuff said Schaffer’s speed is an asset in the 5K. He also runs the 1,500, a distance he competed Saturday in the University of Virginia Outdoor Challenge, placing 19th in 3:51.93.

“To compete in the 5,000 at the national level, you have to close quick over that last mile,” Acuff said. “Some of your best 5K runners have great mile speed. We focus on that a lot. He has a ton of talent with his speed. We’re usually pretty confident he can outkick some guys in a close race.”

One tangible result of the April 13 race was that he ran the 45th-fastest time by runners in the eastern half of the country. The top 48 times will qualify for the NCAA East Regional May 23-25 at Jacksonville, Florida.

“I don’t think anyone was expecting I would finish as well as I did or with as fast a time,” Schaffer said. “I really wasn’t expecting it myself either.”

Staying home

A two-time first-team all-state selection in cross country and one who won a Federation title in the 1,600 and placed third overall in the state in the 3,200 in 2016, Schaffer could have gone elsewhere to college.

Why BU?

“I love being here,” said Schaffer, an electrical engineering major. “Sometimes people will say, being close to home is a little weird, but I’ve had the opposite experience. I really enjoy being close to home. I still get to hear from a lot of the fans back at Maine-Endwell. I really appreciate that they all keep track of me and support me.”

He’s not alone. Off incredibly talented cross country and track & field teams at M-E, Matt Goyden and Grayson Hoteling also chose BU.

Sophomore Goyden was named the America East’s Outstanding Rookie for cross country in 2018.

Hoteling, a redshirt sophomore, has run 1:55 in the 800.

Schaffer works out with his fellow M-E grads over the summer.

“It’s true, pain loves company,” he said.

And Schaffer is well aware of another M-E distance standout, Spartans senior Parker Stokes, the reigning Press & Sun-Bulletin Athlete of the Year.

“It’s really exciting to watch Parker come up through the ranks,” Schaffer said of his former teammate. “I’m so excited for him. I’m happy that he’s going to Georgetown. I think he’s going to do great there.”

Going forward

For runners, there are certain milestones that let them know they’ve arrived.

In the 5K, breaking 14 minutes is one of them and that’s something Schaffer freely admits he’s eyeing this season.

“That’s a big number I’ve had in my mind for quite a while,” he said. “That would be huge for my overall career to run a time that fast.”

Scenes from Day 2 of the state track and field championships

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Jessica Lawson in the state championships' 1,500.

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He’s done the math and knows averaging between 66- to 67-second laps is what’s necessary.

His next chance in the 5K will come this weekend at the Penn Relays.

“Yeah, I think so, for sure,” Acuff said of the possibility of Schaffer breaking 14 minutes this season. “As his times continue to come down, he’ll be able to get into races with more competitive athletes who have run those times.”

One key for Schaffer is staying healthy, which has been an issue in college. He pointed to heavier mileage and more intense workouts as one reason he’s been forced to miss time at BU. This season, he’s dealt with uncooperative Achilles tendons.

“It’s a new challenge,” he said. “You have to persevere through those hard times.”

Regardless of performance, Acuff sounds happy to have him on the team.

“Dan is amazing,” she said. “You can’t ask for a better student-athlete in your program. Great student, very humble, obviously, he has a great work ethic. He’s bright, he’s a team leader, a captain, a great role model for the rest of the program.”

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