Foerster, Ayeni Qualify for Finals at NCAA Championships

Story Links

June 7, 2007

Virginia steeplechaser Jan Foerster ran the second-fastest time in school history with his 8:41.78, a personal-best mark that qualified him for the finals of the steeplechase at the NCAA Track and Field Championships in Sacramento, Calif. Teammate Yemi Ayeni, who ranks sixth in the nation in the discus, also qualified for the finals of that event, tossing a 59.47m (195′ 1″) on his third throw of the preliminary round to place him in fifth place entering the finals. Both men will compete in the finals on Friday, June 8.

Foerster, who is a two-time ACC champion, sits in 11th place after prelims, only three seconds off the leader’s time. He was ranked 19th going into the meet. The Virginia school record is 8:39.36, set by Rob Cook in 1994. Teammate Stephanie Garcia, running in the NCAAs in her first collegiate season, was the second-fastest freshman in the preliminaries but did not advance to the finals with her 10:22.16.

Ayeni, who smashed the school record with his 200′ 6″ throw at the East Regional, has thrown farther than the old school record in five meets this season. Ranked sixth entering the meet, Ayeni sits just six feet shy of the leader.

All-American Erin Crawford opens up in the 400 intermediate hurdles on Thursday as she looks to earn her second consecutive All-American honor in that event. Four 10K runners will also represent Virginia on Thursday night, including Fulbright scholar Andrew Dumm and cross country All-Americans Kara Scanlin and Emily Harrison. Katie Read will join her teammates in the 10K as well.