Courtesy: Beverly SchaeferFAYETTEVILLE, Ark. (6/11/09) - A brief weather delay at the 2009 NCAA Outdoor Track & Field Championship on the campus of the University of Arkansas had no effect on senior Michael Maag, who advances to the men's 5000-meter final.
Maag advanced the men's 5000-meter run final after placing sixth in the first heat with a time of 13:59.96. The time is his second-best time of the season, after his mark of 13:41.17 recorded at the Mt Sac Relays. Maag will be one of 16 runners competing for the title of national champion on Friday, June 12 at 8:40 p.m.
Thunderstorms and lightning halted the track events midway through the first day of the championship, beginning at around 7 p.m., local time. At that time, Maag and sophomore Ashley Higginson had to sit and wait for the weather to pass before they had a chance to get out on the track.
Higginson ran one of her best times of the season in the women's steeplechase, finishing in 10:17.48, 4.69 seconds off her personal best time. The mark settled her in the 16th position, just below the top 14 that are advancing to the final.
Sophomore Sarah Cummings will vie for the national title in the women's 10000-meter run scheduled for Thursday at 8:55 p.m.
