Sacramento, Calif.----- San Jose State University's Craig Huff finished fifth in his heat and 18th overall in the men's steeplechase at the 2019 NCAA Outdoor Track & Field Championships Preliminary Round meet.
Despite a wind that picked up during the second and third heats of the steeplechase, Huff posted his second fastest time in a 3000-meter steeplechase when he crossed the finish line in 8:48.71. The 2019 Mountain West conference outdoor meet champion had run 8:47.52 earlier in the season at the Stanford Invitational.
The senior from Huntington Beach, Calif., raced with the leaders from the start staying no worse than sixth place in a tightly bunched pack. With about two laps to go, Huff made his move to the front, took the lead and was in first place for about 300 meters.
He finished his Spartan career #2 on the all-time San Jose State list behind Jeff Fishback's 8:43.6 in 1964. At last year's NCAA Preliminary Round meet, Huff was 36th overall in the steeplechase.
Obsa Ali of Minnesota posted the fastest time of the 48 entrants in the three heats with an 8:34.16. The 8:41.89 clocking by Iowa's Nathan Mylenek, finishing third in the same heat as Huff, was good for the 12th and final qualifying spot for the NCAA Championships in Austin, Texas next month.
NCAA Division I Outdoor Track & Field Preliminary Round Championships
Hornet Stadium, Sacramento, Calif.
May 24, 2019
Men's 3000 steeplechase (48 entries, 12 advance) ----- 1, Obsa Ali, Minnesota, 8:34.16. 2, Alec Basten, Minnesota, 8:34.50. 3, Alex Rogers, texas, 8:35.25. 4, Kenneth Rooks, Brigham Young, 8:36.08. 5, Clayson Shumway, Brigham Young, 8:36.25. 6, John Rice, Texas, 8:38.29. 7, Jacob Heslington, Brigham Young, 8:39.58. 8, Stephen Fahy, Stanford, 8:39.60. 9, Bailey Roth, Arizona, 8:39.78. 10, Matt Owens, Brigham Young, 8:39.95. 11, Ryan Smeeton, Oklahoma State, 8:41.14. 12, Nathan Mylenek, Iowa, 8:412.39. San Jose State finisher – 18, Craig Huff, 8:48.71.
Craig Huff 18th In NCAA Preliminary Round Steeplechase
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