Oklahoma State University Athletics
Thompson Records U.S. Standard in Steeplechase
June 11, 2017 | Cowboy Cross Country & Track, Cowgirl Cross Country & Track
PORTLAND, Ore. – Just two days after finishing fourth in the NCAA 1,500-meter final, Cowboy senior Josh Thompson clocked a personal best 8:32.90 in he 3,000-meter steeplechase to qualify for the U.S. Championships, Sunday at the Portland Track Festival.
Thompson's time was good enough for fourth-place in the event and well under the American standard time of 8:40.00. He was just under a second off the World Championship qualifying time of 8:32.00.
The mark was a near 20-second personal best, topping his previous steeplechase best that was set a month ago at the Big 12 Outdoor Championships where he finished second. Sunday's time moves him to second on the school's top-10 list.
With his qualifying time in the steeplechase, Thompson has now secured a bid to the U.S. Championships in two events, including the 1,500.
Fellow senior Craig Nowak set a personal best in the 1,500-meter run in Portland, again, just two days after he took 12th in the NCAA 1,500-meter final.
Nowak finished second in one of the fastest heats of the day, crossing the line in 3:39.64, more than 10 seconds better than his time from Friday's championship race.
After just missing out on the NCAA women's 1,500-meter final on Thursday, Cowgirl senior Kaela Edwards recorded a personal best 4:11.71 in the fast heat of the 1,500 that was good for ninth place.
The time is the second-fastest in Cowgirl history, just behind former Cowgirl Nataljia Piliusina, who also ran in Sunday's Track Festival, taking seventh in the same heat as Edwards.
The 2017 U.S. Championships will take place June 23-25 in Sacramento, California.
Thompson's time was good enough for fourth-place in the event and well under the American standard time of 8:40.00. He was just under a second off the World Championship qualifying time of 8:32.00.
The mark was a near 20-second personal best, topping his previous steeplechase best that was set a month ago at the Big 12 Outdoor Championships where he finished second. Sunday's time moves him to second on the school's top-10 list.
With his qualifying time in the steeplechase, Thompson has now secured a bid to the U.S. Championships in two events, including the 1,500.
Fellow senior Craig Nowak set a personal best in the 1,500-meter run in Portland, again, just two days after he took 12th in the NCAA 1,500-meter final.
Nowak finished second in one of the fastest heats of the day, crossing the line in 3:39.64, more than 10 seconds better than his time from Friday's championship race.
After just missing out on the NCAA women's 1,500-meter final on Thursday, Cowgirl senior Kaela Edwards recorded a personal best 4:11.71 in the fast heat of the 1,500 that was good for ninth place.
The time is the second-fastest in Cowgirl history, just behind former Cowgirl Nataljia Piliusina, who also ran in Sunday's Track Festival, taking seventh in the same heat as Edwards.
The 2017 U.S. Championships will take place June 23-25 in Sacramento, California.
Players Mentioned
Middle Distance
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Distance
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Distance
/ Cowboy Cross Country & TrackTuesday, July 07
Tuesday, July 07
Friday, June 05
Friday, May 29
