Four LHU Tracksters Earn Spots at NCAA Championships

LOCK HAVEN, Pa. – Four members of the Lock Haven University men’s track and field team will continue their season at the NCAA Outdoor Championships in Abilene, Texas. The championships are Thursday-Saturday, May 26-28.

Senior Chris Cowan (Horseheads, N.Y./Thomas A. Edison) leads the way with a pair of events (5,000 and 10,000 meters), and fellow distance specialists Ryan Blood (Summerdale, Pa./East Pennsboro) and Aaron Benson (Mt. Jewett, Pa./Kane Area) will compete in the 5,000 and 10,000, respectively. Sophomore Jim Dempsey (Blue Bell, Pa./Wissahickon) rounds out the quartet with his qualifying in the high jump.

Cowan had the team’s top national finish this season, ranking seventh in the 10,000 with a 30:00.03, ran at the Penn Relays April 30. He added a 14^th place 14:26.08 in the 5,000 at the Bucknell Distance Carnival April 16.

Blood ranks ninth nationally in the 5,000 with a 14:18.91 also set at the record-setting Penn Relays. Benson picked up his 10,000 time of 30:31.74 at the Penn Relays as well, good for 15^th place.

Dempsey cleared the bar at 6-feet-10 ½ at the Outdoor PSAC West Challenge April 9, a national ranking of 17^th.