2008 CROSS COUNTRY: Did not compete
2007 CROSS COUNTRY: Competed in final five events for Maryland... Was either first or second on the team in four of those five events... Terps' top finisher with sixth-place overall at the George Mason Invitational (25:50.2 over 8K)... Also got a top-10 placing with 25:43.9 to place seventh overall and second on the team as Maryland won the team title at the Leopard Invitational at Lafayette... Second on the team and 29th overall at the ACC Championships at Virginia, going 25:06.7 over 8K... Finished 30th individually and second for the Terps with 31:14 clocking on 10K course at NCAA Mid-Atlantic Regional at Lehigh.
2006 CROSS COUNTRY: Finished first on the team and 10th overall in his first collegiate race at the Great Meadows Invitational... placed second on the team at the Chile Pepper Invitational (108th overall, 31:44.9), the ACC Championships (47th overall, 26:03.1), and the IC4A Championships (48th overall, 26:18.0)... finished third among Terrapins at both the Tribe Invitational (35th overall, 25:39.7) and the NCAA regional (78th overall, 32:46.8).
BEFORE MARYLAND: All-North Jersey in track and cross country at Northern Highlands Regional HS... all-county in 1600m and cross country ... state sectional champion in 1600m ... school won back-to-back sectional championships... top pre-collegiate marks were 4:18 in 1,600m and 15:39 in 5K cross country.
PERSONAL: Born July 18, 1988 in Paterson, N.J... Son of Erica and Peter Diestel... has two brothers, Tucker and Casey... enjoys music and drawing... lists Michael Jordan and Bernard Lagat as his favorite athlete ... lists biggest athletic thrill as running the DMR at the Penn Relays.
