Aric Van Halen

Height:
5-11
Class:
Senior
Hometown:
Los Angeles, Calif.
High School:
Oakwood

PERSONAL BESTS

INDOOR

Mile: 4:19.93 (2010)

3,000-Meters: 7:53.74 (2013)

OUTDOOR

800-Meters: 1:52.54 (2013)

1,500-Meters: 3:47.85 (2013)

Steeplechase: 8:37.45 (2012)

5,000-Meters: 14:01.91 (2012)

BIG 12 SCORING

2011 (O) Steeplechase, 4th (8:57.16)

PAC-12 SCORING

2012 Steeplechase, 2nd (8:50.09)

2013 Steeplechase, 1st (8:41.73)

2013 5,000-Meters, 5th (14:12.56)

NCAA SCORING

2013 Steeplechase, 8th (8:44.50)

HONORS

2012 Steeplechase All-American Second Team

2013 Steeplechase All-American First Team

2013: Indoor: Van Halen had a strong final indoor season for the Buffs, focusing on the 3,000-meter run. He started off by racing 7:53.74 in the 3k at the Husky Classic (2/9), which put him third on the all-time performers list to Olympian Adam Goucher and teammate Richard Medina. The time was also fourth on the all-time performances list. Two weeks later at the Mountain Pacific Sports Federation Championships, Van Halen placed second in 8:02.33. He qualified for his first NCAA Indoor Championship and placed 14^th (8:05.85) to earn his first indoor All-American honor.

Outdoor: Van Halen capped off his final campaign for the Buffs on a great note. He once again was the top steeplechase performer for the Buffs, winning the Pac-12 Championship in 8:41.73. Van Halen helped the Buffs pick up 22 points in the race as CU went 1-3-4-8. He also picked up four additional points for the team score when he placed fifth in the 5,000 (14:12.56). Van Halen returned his focus to the steeplechase and placed seventh at the NCAA West Preliminary Championship, clocking a season-best of 8:38.23 to advance to the NCAA Championships. Van Halen earned first team All-American honors at nationals, placing eighth in 8:44.50 after a sixth-place finish (8:44.70) in the semifinals. He went on to compete at the USATF Outdoor Championships and was ninth in the finals (8:38.85).

2012: Indoor: Redshirt. Did not compete.

Outdoor: Van Halen led CU in the steeplechase during the outdoor campaign, although he recorded personal bests in the 1,500 (3:48.74) and 5,000-meter runs (14:01.91). Van Halen started the season in the steeplechase with a then-personal best of 8:42.79 at Mt. SAC Relays (4/20), placing third in the Olympic Development section. At the Pac-12 Championships, he placed was the runner-up, finishing the race in 8:50.09. Van Halen went on to win his section of the steeplechase at the NCAA West Prelims and had the third best time overall at 8:53.94. He improved his best time of the season during the semis at the NCAA Championships, finishing 13^th overall in 8:42.55. The time made him the sixth-fastest CU performer of all-time. Two days later in the finals, Van Halen placed 10^th (8:50.64) to earn second team All-America honors.

2011: Indoor: Van Halen earned his best finish of the season with a fourth-place finish in the mile (4:26.67) at the Don Barrett Duals (1/29). He also raced at the Husky Classic (2/12), placing 33^rd overall with a time of 8:21.09 in the 3k.

Outdoor: Van Halen continued to focus on the steeplechase during the outdoor season. He ran a season best of 8:52.53 at the Cardinal Invite (5/1). Van Halen also scored for the Buffs at the Big 12 Championships, placing fourth with a time of 8:57.16. He went on to compete at the NCAA West Preliminary Championships (5/27) and placed 24^th overall with a time of 9:03.18.

2010: Indoor: Van Halen ran a personal record of 8:18.07 at the Husky Classic (2/13). At the Big 12 meet, he ran in the 3k and the mile. He finished the 3k in 8:30.73 to place 30^th overall, but Van Halen fared better in the mile as he finished with a PR (4:19.93) to place 16^th.

Outdoor: Van Halen had some success in the steeplechase during his first outdoor campaign. He ran the fifth best time for a Buff in 2010 at the Mt. SAC Relays, crossing the finish in 9:12.7 (hand-timed). He improved on that time when he ran 9:12.42 at the Big 12 Championship. Van Halen just missed scoring when he finished 10^th. Earlier in the season he recorded a time of 3:59.16 in the 1,500 for third place at the Fum McGraw Open (5/8).

2009: Indoor: Van Halen started his collegiate career by running a 4:30.03 mile at the Potts Invite (1/24), placing third overall. At the Big 12 Indoor meet, he raced a time of 8:23.83 in the 3,000-meter run and was 23^rd overall.

Outdoor: Redshirt. Did not compete.

CROSS COUNTRY: (2012) Van Halen earned his spot back on the varsity roster during his final season, starting with a ninth-place finish at the Rocky Mountain Shootout. He followed up that performance with a 27^th-place finish at pre-nats. Van Halen scored in his first meet of the season at the Pac-12 Championships, helping CU take its second straight team title with a 12^th-place finish. He was 23^rd at regionals and finished the year with a 36^th-place finish as CU’s No. 2 runner at NCAAs; helping CU to a third-place team finish. Van Halen was named to the All-Pac-12 Second Team, all-region team and notched his first cross country All-American honor during the season. (2011) Van Halen raced twice during the fall for CU. He was 17^th at the Rocky Mountain Shootout and placed 34^th at the Santa Clara Bronco Invite. (2010) Van Halen continued to show improvement on the cross country course as a sophomore, starting with a 17-place finish at the Rocky Mountain Shootout. He placed 22^nd at the pre-nats meet and then earned his first All-Big 12 honor by taking 10^th at the Big 12 Championship. Van Halen followed that up with his first all-region honor after running to a 14^th-place finish at regionals. He finished the season with a 177^th-place finish at nationals. (2009) Van Halen earned a spot on the varsity roster as a redshirt freshman. He started the season at the Rocky Mountain Shootout and placed 18^th as the eighth Buff to finish the race. Van Halen raced at pre-nats in the open race and was the eighth runner to finish in 25:20.7. At the Big 12 Championship, he was 21^st overall and followed that performance up with a 42^nd overall placing at regionals. Van Halen finished the season with a 130^th finish at NCAAs. (2008) Did not compete.

HIGH SCHOOL: Van Halen won the 2007 Division V California State Cross Country Championship. Van Halen helped to lead Oakwood High School to its first state appearance in 2005. Van Halen has school records in the 400m (53.1), 800m (2:00), 1,600m (4:22) and 3,200m (9:19).

HIGH SCHOOL BESTS: 800-meteres: 2:00; 1,600-meters: 4:22; 3,200-meters: 9:19.

IN THE CLASSROOM: Van Halen graduated with a degree in film.

PERSONAL: Aric Alexander Van Halen was born on October 6, 1989 in Los Angeles, Calif. His parents are Alex and Kelly Van Halen. He has one younger brother, Malcolm and a younger sister, Stella. Van Halen was the first American born in his family. He lists his hobbies as cars, scuba diving, ultimate Frisbee and cycling.