By
Ryan Finley
Arizona Daily Wildcat
For the second time in two weeks, UA senior Patrick Nduwimana broke his Arizona 800-meter record at a track meet in Brussels, Belgium.
Nduwimana, who will be competing for Burundi at the Olympics next month in Sydney, ran a one minute, 44.06-second race.
His time beat his old mark of 1:44.44, which the senior set on Aug. 19 at the Herculis-Zepter 2000 meet in Monaco.
According to UA head coach Dave Murray, the senior's improved times have put him in contention for a medal this summer.
"He's been running very well," Murray said. "It's the fourth straight meet that he's run in the 1:44's. I think he has a shot of making the Olympic finals. He's less than a second off of the world's best (time)."
While not currently competing for UA track and field, Nduwimana's times count as Arizona records due to a rule that allows athletes to set records until the official end of the running season.
"He can set school records until the season ends, which, this year, is through the Olympic games," Murray said. "Even if he doesn't run another step for us, these are records."
Although Nduwimana has used all four seasons of indoor eligibility, the senior can still technically race in UA's indoor meets this spring.
According to Murray, Olympic success will most likely end Nduwimana's career as a Wildcat runner.
"If he makes it to the Olympic finals, we would be talking about a lot of money ," Murray said. "Right now, he has a personal commitment to Arizona. "
But, Murray confessed, turning down lucrative racing deals might be hard on the senior.
"It might be hard turning down the big money," Murray said. "It would be a lot different if we were talking about him missing an outdoor season. Our indoor season is limited - only a few meets."
Either way, Nduwimana will return to UA in December to finish his education.
"He'll be back in school, one way or another," Murray said.
While the senior's status as a Wildcat is unknown, his legacy as one of the program's best athletes is all but assured.
"He's one of the greatest athletes to attend this university in any sport," Murray said. "I put him up there with the greatest swimmers, football players, basketball players (and) golfers.
"A lot of people can't relate to one minute, 44-second, 800-meters. When I relate that kind of time, I've got to put Patrick in the top three or four in the country."
