LEXINGTON, Ky. -- Furman graduate student Bryn Woodall finished 42nd in the men's 1,500m Wednesday to open the NCAA Outdoor Track and Field Championships East Preliminaries, which are being hosted by Kentucky, this week at the UK Track & Field Complex in Lexington, Ky.

A native of Llanfairfechan, Wales, Woodall ran in the third heat, which proved to be the fastest heat of the evening, and posted a time of 3:52.86.  The reigning SoCon champion in the event, he recorded a PR of 3:39.91 at the Charlotte Invitational to qualify for the NCAA meet.  Woodall won the 1,500m title at the NAIA Championships each of the last two seasons while competing for Milligan before transferring to Furman.  

On Thursday night, the women's 1,500m first round is slated for 6:30 p.m. and the women's 800m first round will follow at 7:50 p.m.  Senior Camryn Wennersten, who hails from Ridgewood, N.J., will compete in the 1,500m.  She ranks 26th in the event after finishing fifth with a personal-best time of 4:14.56 at the Duke Invitational.  Claire Cook, a native of Austin, Texas, will run in the 800m.  She recorded a personal-best time of 2:04.95 to take eighth place at the Duke Twilight to qualify in 39th place.  

The semifinals of the men's 5,000m will commence at 5:40 p.m. Friday.  Graduate student Albert Velikonja, a native of Montreal, Quebec, is making his first appearance at the NCAA East Preliminaries as a Furman athlete and his second overall.  He qualified in 19th place with a 5,000m personal-best time of 13:40.11, which he recorded at the Bryan Clay Invitational.  While competing for Dartmouth last season, Velikonja finished 16th in the 5,000m at the prelims. 

The women's 3,000m Steeplechase quarterfinals are slated for 5:40 p.m. on Saturday, with freshman Annie Miller and sophomore Jais Ward representing the Paladins.  A native of Matthews, N.C., Miller won the SoCon 3,000m Steeplechase title earlier this month.  She qualified for the prelims after taking gold with a personal-best time of 10:13.12 at the Duke Invitational and currently ranks 35th in the East.  Ward, who hails from Columbia, S.C., finished second with a PR of 10:18.21 at the SoCon Championship to qualify in 46th place. 

The top 12 finishers in each event will advance to the NCAA Championships, which will be held in Eugene, Oregon, June 10-13.

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NCAA East Preliminaries - Furman Schedule/Results
Wednesday, May 27
Men's 1,500m 1st Round – Bryn Woodall – 42nd (3:52.86) 

Thursday, May 28
Women's 1,500m 1st Round – 6:30 p.m. – Camryn Wennersten
Women's 800m 1st Round – 7:50 p.m. – Claire Cook

Friday, May 29
Men's 5,000m Semifinal  – 5:40 p.m. – Albert Velikonja

Saturday, May 30
Women's 3,000m Steeplechase Quarterfinals – 5:40 p.m. – Annie Miller & Jais Ward