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Syracuse track and field traveled to Lexington, Kentucky to participate in the NCAA East Preliminaries from Wednesday to Saturday. The top 12 finishers in each event qualified for the NCAA Championships in Eugene, Oregon, where they will compete alongside the top 12 from the NCAA West Preliminaries.

Three SU athletes — Sam Lawler, Savannah Roark and Benne Anderson — finished within the top 12 of their events to advance to the NCAA Outdoor Championships.

The first Syracuse nationals qualifier was Lawler. He placed 11th with a 29:22.34 time in the 10,000-meter race Wednesday to book his ticket to Track Town. Paul O’Donnell crossed 17th (29:35.60) in the same event. Perry Mackinnon, who entered holding the fifth-best time in the region and the Syracuse school record in the event, did not finish the race.

On Thursday, after a nearly five-hour weather delay, Roark became the second Orange nationals qualifier with her 12th-place finish in the women’s 10,000-meter race with a 33:13.06 time. She rallied in the last lap to finish in the top 12 just 1.32 seconds ahead of the 13th-place finisher. The pair of qualifications in the 10k marks the 12th time in 14 years an Orange athlete has qualified for the National Championships in that event.

Anderson became SU’s third athlete to advance to the NCAA Championships. He finished sixth in the men’s 1,500-meter race with a 3:39.99 time Friday.

Elijah Mallard did not finish the men’s 400-meter hurdles Wednesday after he fell going over a hurdle.

Shaleah Colaire competed in a pair of events Thursday, but she did not advance from her heats. Colaire finished 33rd in the 100-meter hurdles with a 13.54 time. She later placed 43rd in the 400-meter hurdles (1:00.26).

Jaheem Hayles didn’t add to his three All-American honors after he clipped a hurdle in the men’s 110-meter hurdles on Friday, placing 22nd (14.11), bookending his campaign.

Madison Neuner missed out on the NCAA Championships after she took 15th in the women’s 3000-meter steeplechase on Saturday with a 10:15.98 time, eight seconds off 12th place.

The meet concluded with a 19th-place finish for Ellie Lawler in the women’s 5,000-meter race (16:17.50) Saturday, ending her season as she placed 26 seconds outside the qualifying spots.

But Sam, Roark and Anderson’s seasons continue as they prepare for the NCAA Outdoor Championships, which run from June 5–8 in Eugene, Oregon.

Published on May 26, 2024 at 7:53 pm

Contact Nicholas: njalumka@syr.edu | @nalumkal