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His coach at Bishop Alemany, Terrell Stanley, said he gave Dezeurn permission to run a fast time.

Washington was even more impressive in the second varsity eight, winning in a very fast time of 5:34.317, 2.6 seconds ahead of Princeton.

Hope of a fast time quickly evaporated as the contenders opted not to follow the pacemaker and as Griggs got boxed midway through the closing lap, his fellow Irishman McElhinney was able to make his decisive break.

"Every time we do step on the track, it's just going to be a really fast time because it has to be - or else you're not going to survive this event."

In a sport where supporters are used to being burned by things that seem too good to be true, some have cast shade on a relative unknown 30-year-old suddenly running such a fast time.