University of Richmond Athletics
University of Richmond
NCAA East Preliminary Round
Matt Llano Secures NCAA National Championship Spot In 10,000m
05/27/2011 | Women's Track & Field
May 27, 2011
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. - Senior Matt Llano finished eighth overall in the 10,000m Thursday night as action at the NCAA Track & Field East Preliminary began at Indiana University in Bloomington, Ind. The top 12 finishers advance to the NCAA National Championship.
Llano, who is a reigning 2010 NCAA All-America after a ninth-place finish at the NCAA National Championship, was eighth overall in a time of 29:11.06 to earn a return trip to the National Championship meet.
Also for the Spiders Thursday night, senior Julie Rechel broke the school record in the 10,000m and claimed 35th place with her time of 34:50.65, shaving nearly 35 seconds off her time from the Penn Relays. Rechel has closed her collegiate career in style after recently placing second overall in the 2011 USA Triathlon Collegiate National Championship.
Junior Meaghan McGovern recorded a hammer throw of 54.48m, which was ranked fourth in Flight 1 but did not qualify her for the finals.
Action continues at the NCAA East Preliminary Round Friday and four Spiders are set to compete -- Andrew Benford, Nicol Traynor and Jenn Ennis in the 3,000m steeplechase and Heather Roush in the javelin.
