3 SU runners punch tickets in steeplechase to NCAA Outdoor Championships

On the second day of the NCAA East Preliminaries in Tampa, Florida, Syracuse qualified three runners to the NCAA Track Outdoor Championships, all in the 3000-meter steeplechase event.

Noah Affolder and Aidan Tooker both qualified on the men’s side, placing first and second respectively in Heat 1. Affolder finished with a time of 8:45.88 (seventh overall) while Tooker finished in 8:46.39 (ninth overall). On the women’s side, Paige Stoner won her heat and finished first overall with a time of 9:48.73, both a school and track record. Sydney Leiher did not qualify, placing 32nd overall.

Earlier in the day, Angelo Goss and Matt Moore advanced to the men’s 110-meter hurdle quarterfinals. Goss finished third in his heat with a time of 13.78 seconds, good for 10th overall. Moore placed fourth in his heat, but qualified by taking the first of six wildcard spots for the best times outside of the top three in each heat, clocking in at 13.82 seconds (12th overall). Richard Floyd did not advance but was the fastest runner not to do so with a time of 13.97 seconds (23rd overall).

Tia Thevenin ran in the women’s 100-meter hurdles but did not advance, placing 41st overall with a time of 13.61 seconds. In the women’s 200-meters, Imani Clark and Dasia Pressley also failed to advance placing 45th and 46th overall, respectively.

The NCAA East Preliminaries will continue Saturday as more Orange runners look to clinch berths. The Outdoor Track NCAA Championships will begin June 6 in Eugene, Oregon.