LEXINGTON, Ky. -- Furman graduate student Albert Velikonja placed 32nd in the 5,000m Friday at 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.

Velikonja, a native of Montreal, Quebec, recorded a time of 14:15.93 in 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 posted at the Bryan Clay Invitational.  While competing for Dartmouth last season, Velikonja finished 16th in the event at the prelims. 

The meet concludes on Saturday.  The women's 3,000m Steeplechase quarterfinals are slated for 5:40 p.m., 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. 

Earlier at the meet, graduate student Bryn Woodall, a native of Llanfairfechan, Wales, finished 42nd in the men's 1,500m.  He 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, Woodall recorded a PR of 3:39.91 at the Charlotte Invitational to qualify for the NCAA meet.  He 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, Claire Cook turned in a time of 2:06.06 in the women's 800m, moving up four spots from her qualifying slot of 39th to finish in 35th place.  A sophomore from Austin, Texas, she recorded a personal-best time of 2:04.95 to take eighth place at the Duke Twilight to qualify for the meet.  Senior Wennersten, who hails from Ridgewood, N.J., posted a time of 4:24.90 to take 45th in the women's 1,500m.  She ranked 26th entering the event after finishing fifth with a personal-best time of 4:14.56 at the Duke Invitational.  

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

Minuteman Press is the Official Sponsor of Furman Athletics press releases.

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 – Camryn Wennersten – 45th (4:24.90) 
Women's 800m 1st Round – Claire Cook – 35th (2:06.06) 

Friday, May 29
Men's 5,000m Semifinal – Albert Velikonja – 32nd (14:15.93) 

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