BRADENTON, Fla.– Both the men's and women's 3,000 meter steeplechase preliminary heats were tightly contested during the opening round at the 2016 NCAA Division II Outdoor National Track and Field Championships hosted by the University of Tampa at IMG Academy on Thursday. Senior Della Lyle placed fifth in her heat and 11^th overall and has advanced onto the national finals race. Senior Robert Peterson placed sixth in his heat and 13^th overall, just one spot of the 12-advancing athletes moving onto the finals.
 
Lyle placed fifth in the opening heat in 10:26.88 and had to wait-out the second heat, but finished 11th overall to advance onto the championship race. Out of the two opening heats, the top-four from each of the two heats plus the next four fastest times advanced onto the finals.
 
Lyle stayed in the middle of the pack for the first lap of her heat, just behind the lead pack through the first lap and water jump. After the opening lap, the lead pack of four runner began to pull away. Lyle led the chase pack, staying just behind the front runners.
 
Just past the four-minute mark, the lead pack began to bunch up closer. Lyle pushed the chase pack up to the leaders at the five-minute mark, drawing even with the front runners.
 
In the middle of the race, Lyle stumbled over a barrier, falling back, but was able to draw back into fourth place at 6:23. With two laps remaining, Lyle put herself into position in the fifth spot, about five lengths off the lead runner. The lead trio of Molly Oren, Colett Rampf, and Ann Miller pulled themselves ahead with two laps to go.
 
Down the home stretch into the final lap, Lyle drew past Ashley Laureno for the fourth qualifying spot. Holding strong in the final lap, Lyle kept herself behind the leading trio. Just over the final water jump, Laureno kicked hard down the stretch overtaking Lyle and finishing just ahead of the senior in 10:26.76. The senior had to wait to see if her time would be good enough to advance her onto the finals.
 
The second heat finished faster with the top-2 times placing first and second overall. Nicole Brofoski finished in 10:23.08. All 12 runners in the final are with seven seconds of one another as the championship race on Friday should be an extremely competitive final.


 
Lyle qualified for the national event with a runner-up finish at the GNAC championships in 10:29.08. She held the 11^th fastest time in the nation heading into the preliminary race.
 
The women's final will begin on Friday, May, at 5:30 p.m. Mountain time. A live broadcast for the national meet can be found online HERE or at www.ncaa.com/liveschedule.
 
2016 NCAA Division II Men's and Women's Outdoor Track & Field Championships
May 26-28, Bradenton, Florida
Hosted by: the University of Tampa and IMG Academy
 
Complete Schedule: HERE
Meet Program: HERE
 
WATCH LIVE: www.ncaa.com/liveschedule or HERE
 
Women's 3,000 meter steeplechase FINAL
Friday, May 27
5:30 p.m. Mountain time
Top-8 First Team All-American, next four Second Team All-American
 
Peterson finished sixth in the first heat and 13th overall with a time of 9:12.45. The senior missed the final championship race by one spot. Like the women's race, the top-four from each of the two heats plus the next four fastest times advanced onto the finals.

 

The second heat finished at a faster pace with Jonah Theisen from Black Hills State coming across the line first in 9:03.74. The top-7 finishers in the second heat advanced with the five fastest times from the first heat completing the field of 12 for the finals to be run on Friday, May 27.
 
Peterson tripped on the first lap after a barrier jump, but was able to roll out of the fall and get back on track. The senior stayed in the back of the pack for the first three and ½ minutes before the lead runners began to pull away. Peterson kept pace about a length back for the next minute. Just past the five-minute mark the lead pack fell to five, but Peterson kept himself within a length of the top runners.
 
Moving into the back half of the race, the front six runners pushed the pace. Starting in the last two laps, the lead runners drew ahead of Peterson by five and six lengths. After the second to last water jump, the top-5 paced themselves around the final lap, extending their lead. Down the stretch, the lead four runners traded places, with Peterson giving chase. Across the finish line, Anthony Wondaal from Hillsdale placed first in 9:07.22 with Peterson coming in sixth, 1:06.69 off the pace.
 
Peterson, a track and field All-American, finishes his career at MSUB a six-time individual record holder in track and field, and is part of two relay team records, including the Distance Medley Relay team that won the conference title this season at the GNAC Indoor Championships.
 
He is a three-time individual track and field GNAC title winner with championships in the outdoor steeplechase and twice in the indoor mile.
 
Peterson qualified for the national meet with a GNAC title winning time of 8:59.23. He held the ninth fastest time in the nation coming into the preliminary round of the event.
 
Peterson earned an All-American finish two years ago at the NCAA Division II Indoor Track and Field Championships in the mile with his 10^th place overall result.