TAMPA, Fla. – With a school record best time, freshman Wesley Kirui continued his stellar first season on Friday night at the University of South Florida Track and Field Stadium for the NCAA East Regional qualifier.

Kirui ran a school record 8:45.73 to place third in his heat of the 3000-meter steeplechase and earned his spot at the NCAA Division I Outdoor Track and Field Championships in Eugene, Oregon from June 6-9.

He had to finish in the top three in his heat or have one of the next three best times to earn his trip to Eugene.  Kirui trailed senior Jamaine Coleman of Eastern Kentucky (8:44.08) and senior Max Benoit of Michigan State (8:44.32) in the second of three heats.

Other Friday participants were not as fortunate.  Jaelen Williams ran a 51.81 in the quarterfinals of the 400 hurdles and did not qualify.  Tayvon Burris ran 1:49.08 in the 800 meters and did not qualify.   Jaelen Leonard, who was weather delayed Thursday night in her long jump qualifier, also did not advance after a best leap of 18-8.75.

On the final day of the regional Saturday, the men's 4x400 relay team will run in the last heat scheduled to be approximately 4 pm.
You can follow results from the meet through the NCAA website.

For more information on Hampton University track and field by contacting the Office of Sports Information at 757-727-5757 or visiting the official Pirates website at www.hamptonpirates.com.