Naimadu wins steeplechase at Penn
ACU freshman wins race by 11 seconds against Division I field
PHILADELPHIA, Pa. -- Abilene Christian University freshman Nicodemus Naimadu won the 3000 meter Steeplechase over the weekend at the Penn Relays Carnival at Franklin Field.
Naimadu cruised to the win in the "Championship" race, beating an entirely NCAA Division I field. Naimadu led from the gun, and ran unopposed the whole race. Penn State's Chris Foster broke away about halfway through the race and maintained second place by about 30 meters throughout the second half of the race.
Naimadu won the race in a time of 8 minutes, 40.50 seconds, while Foster came in at 8:51.84. Naimadu had already automatically qualified for the steeplechase at the NCAA Division II outdoor championship meet with a winning time of 8:47.37 at last week's Lone Star Conference championship meet in San Angelo, and his win in Philadelphia only strengthened his hold on the top spot in the steeplechase in NCAA Division II.
Naimadu has also qualified for the national meet (May 26-28 at ACU's Elmer Gray Stadium) in the 1500 meters and 5000 meters.
Laurant Ngirakamaro posted a provisional qualifying time in the 5000 meters, finishing 16th in 14:39.47, while Trina Cox bettered her provisional time in the 5000 meters, finishing 19th in the women's race in 17:15.13.
ACU's men's Sprint Medley Relay team finished second in 3:22.55, finishing just behind Kansas, which clocked a 3:21.39.
