April 13, 2007

Results

WASHINGTON - Brendan Fennell lowered his own school record and qualified for the NCAA East Regional in winning the men's 5000m to highlight a meet in which numerous Eagles set personal bests at the Bucknell Outdoor Classic Friday night. Teammate Awit Yohannes also qualified for the NCAA East Regional in the 5000m, running the third-fastest time in school history.

The men's 5000m was the featured event of the night as Fennell had a showdown with Patriot League Indoor 5000m Champion Matt Forys of Bucknell. The race lived up to its billing as Fennell outdistanced the Bison in the end by more than five seconds with a personal best and new school record 14:02.53. The time qualifies him for regionals as does Yohannes' 14:09.65, which eclipsed his personal best by more than 10 seconds. Behind their spectacular running came Eagle sophomore Carlos Jamieson who set an outdoor personal best of 14:36.13 in 15th place.

American now has four athletes who have qualified for Regionals. Fennell in the 1500m and 5000m, Dustin Emrani in the 800m, Carlos Jamieson in the 1500m and Yohannes in the 5000m.

The women's 5000m did not disappoint either as AU also had an outstanding meet, going 1-2-3 in their section of the 5K with each running a personal best. Cathleen Ford continued her breakthrough outdoor season with a 20 second personal best of 17:55.41 for first. Freshman Greta Wicklund and sophomore Megan Mason hit the line separated by just a few strides in second and third. Wicklund, in her first attempt at the distance ran 18:05.33 for second - the eighth-fastest time in school history. Mason was only three seconds back in third with a 18:09.97 - a more than 12 second personal best.

Conor Lanz and Steve Hallinan each ran season bests in the men's 1500 for second and fourth, respectively. Lanz - who has been improving steadily since the beginning of outdoor - ran 3:49.68. In the second open race of his season, Hallinan ran 3:51.84 for fourth.

The rest of American's track team hits the track tomorrow in Charlottesville, Va. at the UVA Invitational.