St. Francis (IL) News
Sun, Apr 25, 2010 - [Men's Indoor Track & Field]
Ian McDowell's 9:19.90 in the 3000 meter steeplechase at the Hillsdale Relays has earned him a spot at the NAIA nationals.
Ian McDowell's 9:19.90 in the 3000 meter steeplechase at the Hillsdale Relays has earned him a spot at the NAIA nationals.

HILLSDALE, Mich. --- Junior Ian McDowell's nationals-qualifying performance at the Hillsdale College (MI) Gina Relays, not to mention a pair of top 10 finishes by two other Saints, highlighted University of St. Francis' showing at the three-day meet over the weekend.

McDowell, a first-year Saint who transferred in from Lansing Community College (MI), qualified in the 3,000 meter steeplechase clocking in at 9:19.90, or 21 seconds better than the qualifying time of 9:40. That placed the Lansing, Mich. native 12th out of 48 individuals from all levels of competition, including all three levels of the NCAA and the ranks of the NAIA.


Sophomore Wayland Froelich (Amboy H.S./Amboy, IL) garnered USF's top finish with his second-place performance in the triple jump, where he registered a distance of 45 feet, 10.5 inches. A total of 17 individuals participated in the event.

Sophomore Daniel Bruckner (Northern Illinois University/Plainfield, IL) also sealed a spot among the top finishers with his jump of 14-5.25 in the pole vault, placing 10th out of 20 competitors.

The NAIA National Championships will be held on the campus of Indiana Wesleyan University May 27-29 in Marion, Indiana.

The Saints, however, have three more meets prior to nationals, including Friday at the University of Illinois Twilight Invite in Champaign.