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EUGENE, Ore. – Virginia opened up competition at the 2010 NCAA Outdoor Track and Field Championships at the historic Hayward Field today and saw three Cavaliers – junior Steve Finley, sophomore All-American Lance Roller and freshman All-American Robby Andrews – advance to the finals of their respective events.

In a rain soaked afternoon, the downpour stopped for a moment while Andrews used his kick down the homestretch of a fast 800m heat to win the opening section in a personal-best time of 1:45.54. His mark is the second-fastest time ever ran by a Cavalier – former two-time NCAA 800m Champion Paul Ereng ran 1:43.16 in 1989 – and ranks third on the all-time American junior records list.

Andrews will take the top seed time into Friday’s finals of the 800m (8:40 p.m. ET) and he will be joined in the event by Roller. Competing in his second-straight NCAA Outdoor Championship, Roller used a fourth-place finish in the first heat with a personal-best time of 1:46.11 to advance to his first-ever NCAA 800m final. Roller’s time ranks third behind Ereng and Andrews, respectively, on Virginia’s all-time list.

Finley will also advance to Friday’s finals, as he finished sixth in the steeplechase in 8:43.71 to automatically qualify. Improving upon a 21st-place finish at nationals last year, this will mark Finley’s first appearance in the NCAA finals of the event. He will compete at 9:15 p.m. ET.

In addition, All-American Steve Delice wrapped up a stellar career with a 15th-place finish in the 400m hurdles. Delice, UVa’s school record holder in the event, finished fourth in his heat with a time of 51.24. He also claimed the IC4A Championship earlier this season in the long hurdles. While competing for Coppin State (2005-09), Delice became the program’s first All-American in 2007 and was an ESPN The Magazine Academic All-American.

The Cavaliers will continue competition tomorrow, with juniors Ryan Collins and Andy Fahringer competing. Fahringer will throw the javelin at 8:15 p.m. ET, while Collins will toe the line for the 10,000m finals at 10:25 p.m. ET.

Virginia’s Schedule of Events/Results (all times Eastern)
Wednesday
Triple Jump Finals – Marcus Robinson – 23rd overall – 48′ 7.25″
800m Semifinals – Robby Andrews – 1st in heat – 1:45.53Q
800m Semifinals – Lance Roller – 4th in heat – 1:46.11q
Steeple Semifinals – Steve Finley – 6th in heat – 8:43.71Q
400m Hurdles Semifinals – Steve Delice – 4th in heat, 15th overall – 51.24
Q – denotes automatic qualifier for finals
q – denotes at large qualifier for finals

Thursday
8:15 p.m. – Javelin Trials & Finals – Andy Fahringer
10:25 p.m. – 10k Finals – Ryan Collins

Friday
8:40 p.m. – 800m Finals – Robby Andrews, Lance Roller
9:15 p.m. – Steeple Finals – Steve Finley

Saturday
12:30 p.m. – Javelin Trials & Finals – Meghan Briggs, Tara Karin

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