June 7, 2007

Results

Duquesne University junior Tom Slosky (Brackenridge, Pa./Highlands) ran a school-record 8:43.39 in his heat of the 3000 meter steeplechase yesterday evening to become the first DU student-athlete to reach the finals of an NCAA Track & Field Championship event.

Slosky will run in the NCAA 3000 meter steeplechase final on Friday night at 7:10 p.m. Pacific time (10:10 p.m. Eastern time) at Sacramento, Calif. The event will be televised on CSTV.

Slosky, who shaved nearly two seconds of his previous school record, originally did not qualify for the finals which include the top five from each of the two heats, plus the next best four overall times.

Slosky was in fourth place with about 100 meters remaining when he was elbowed in the chest by Washington's Carl Moe, causing him drop to back to eighth of 13 runners at the finish. Distance coach Jim Lear filed an appeal and it was upheld, disqualifying Moe and putting Slosky in Friday's final.

Less than one second separated the second through seventh place finishers in Slosky's heat.

Slosky, the only two-time NCAA Championship qualifier in school history, entered the 2007 outdoor season holding Duquesne's record of 9:02.03 in this event. He has cut over 19 seconds off the school mark so far this season.

Slosky can become the first track All-American in school history by being one of the top eight American finishers on Friday night.