VESTAL, N.Y. – The current professional outdoor track & field season couldn't be going much better for 2018 Binghamton alum Eric Holt.

Running for the Empire Elite Track Club, Holt won the 800 at the Monmouth Invitational two weeks ago with a time of 1:47. This past weekend, in a meet aired live on NBC, he won the 1,500 with a season-best time of 3:37.07 at the New York City Grand Prix.

"I knew I was in superb shape and everything was going very well," Holt said after his Grand Prix win. "I got right behind the leaders today, which is where I wanted to be. I was able to take the lead with 400 to go and I never looked back."

Those two performances give Holt plenty of momentum heading into the U.S. National Track & Field Championships, which will be held July 6-9 at historic Hayward Field on the campus of the University of Oregon. He will compete in the men's 1,500.

Since turning professional, Holt has already qualified for some of the biggest meets in the nation. He advanced to the semifinals of the 1,500 at the 2021 U.S. Olympic Trials. At last year's U.S. National Meet, Holt advanced to the finals and was fourth overall.

This past winter, Holt qualified for the famed Wanamaker Mile at the Millrose Games for the first time in his career.

Perhaps one of his most memorable meets, however, came last August at the 2022 North American, Central American and Caribbean Athletic Association Open Championships. Representing the U.S. and running under extremely hot conditions, Holt won the 1,500 with a time of 3:37.62. The 14-runner field in that race included past Olympian Charles Philibert-Thiboutot of Canada.

During his career at Binghamton (2013-18), Holt was a six-time America East champion. He anchored three-first place relay teams, won the 2016 outdoor 1,500, the 2017 indoor mile and the 2018 indoor 1,000.

"I thought my career had come to a close after graduating from Binghamton in 2018, so I feel fortunate to have this opportunity to run professionally," Holt said. "I think my time at Binghamton really helped prepare me for big races."

Holt is one of three Binghamton alums who are now competing professionally in track & field. Emily Mackay (Class of 2022) runs for New Balance Boston while fellow 2022 alum Dan Schaffer runs for Zap Endurance. All three of them were coached by Annette Acuff, who has overseen the Bearcats' distance running program for 23 years.

"Annette Acuff helped show me how important it is to have supportive coaches and teammates," Holt said. "As much as running seems like an individual sport, having a really strong support system makes all the difference. I will always be thankful for that."