Watch Live: NCAA Championships

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT Birgitta Gray O: (406) 896-5917 E: birgitta.gray@msubillings.edu May 26, 2016 WATCH LIVE: Peterson and Lyle at NCAA Championships MSUB Track and Field on Facebook | MSUB Track and Field on ISSUU WATCH LIVE: NCAA Championships | NCAA Championships

Senior Robert Peterson won the 3,000 meter steeplechase at the GNAC Outdoor Championships.

Seniors Robert Peterson and Della Lyle are racing in the 3,000 meter steeplechase preliminaries on Thursday at the NCAA Division II National Outdoor Track and Field Championships, looking to secure a place in the finals to be run on Friday.

BILLINGS, Mont. – MSU Billings track and field seniors Robert Peterson and Della Lyle are racing in the preliminary heats of the 3,000 meter steeplechase at the 2016 NCAA Division II National Track and Field Outdoor Championships on May 26 in Bradenton, Fla., at the IMG Academy.

Peterson qualified for the national meet with his Great Northwest Athletic Conference title winning time of 8:59.23.

After re-drawing racing heats, the senior will now contend for a place in the finals competing in the first of two heats.

Peterson holds the ninth fastest time in the nation heading into the event. He will race in the opening heat scheduled for 5:25 p.m. Mountain time.

The top-4 in each of the two heats plus the next four fastest times will advance to the finals. Peterson is in a heat of nine athletes. The second heat contains 10 athletes. Altogether, 12 of the 19 entered in the preliminary heats will move onto the finals which is scheduled for 5:15 p.m. Mountain time on Friday, May 27.

Lyle also qualified for the national meet with her time at the GNAC championships. The senior transfer placed second at the conference meet in 10:29.08. She will also race for a place in the finals in the first of two heats. The women’s opening heat in the 3,000 meter steeplechase will begin at 5:55 p.m. Mountain time.

Like the men’s preliminaries, out of each women’s heat, four athletes will advance along with the next four fastest times. Twelve athletes are entered in the first women’s heat with 11 in the second. Altogether, 12 of the 23 athletes will advance to the women’s final scheduled for 5:30 p.m. Mountain time on Friday, May 27.

Peterson earned an All-American honor at the NCAA indoor championships two years ago with his finish in the men’s mile. Peterson and Lyle will earn All-American honors by advancing onto the 3,000 meter steeplechase finals. The top-8 athletes in the steeplechase finals earn first team All-American honors with the next four finishers being awarded second team All-American accolades.

The NCAA championships are being streamed live 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 Men’s Heat Sheets: HERE Women’s Heat Sheets: HERE WATCH LIVE: www.ncaa.com/liveschedule or HERE Men’s 3,000 meter steeplechase preliminaries 5:25 p.m. Mountain time First heat: nine athletes (Peterson); Second heat: 10 athletes Top-4 in each heat advance plus next four fastest times Women’s 3,000 meter steeplechase preliminaries 5:55 p.m. Mountain time First heat: 12 athletes (Lyle); Second heat: 12 athletes Top-4 in each heat advance plus next four fastest times

--@MSUBSports | #JacketNation--