Augustana College's
Travis Beniak finished ninth in the 3,000-meter steeplechase at the U.S. Junior Outdoor Track and Field Championships Sunday afternoon in Eugene, Ore.
Beniak, a Zumbrota, Minn., native who recently completed his freshman season at Augustana, crossed the finish line in a time of 9:33.72 to finish ninth in the 19-man field at historic Hayward Field on the campus of the University of Oregon. Competitors must be under 20 years of age.
Sean Soderman of Appalachian State won the race in a time of 9:05.82. Beniak was the top Division II runner in the field. His time was approximately 10 seconds off his season-best mark of 9:23.80, which he turned in at the Mt. SAC Relays on April 17 in Walnut, Calif. The qualifying standard was 9:38.00.
"Travis ran a good race," Augustana head track and field coach
Tracy Hellman said. "There was a big field in the race and the runners were bunched up a little. But this is some great experience for Travis as he looks to the future."
The U.S. Junior Track and Field Championships were held in conjunction with the U.S. Track and Field Championships, also held at Hayward Field.
Beniak is the first Augustana student-athlete, male or female, to qualify for the U.S. Junior Championships.
Jen Buyske qualified for the U.S. Track and Field Championships in 2005 after she claimed the NCAA Division II national title in the javelin.
3,000-meter Steeplechase Results
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1. Sean Soderman
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Appalachian State
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9:05.82
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2. Joseph Whelan
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unattached
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9:09.97
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3. Patrick Dupont
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Syracuse
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9:10.55
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4. Zachary Ornelas
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unattached
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9:17.29
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5. Forrest Misenti
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Syracuse
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9:23.41
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6. John Coyle
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Weber State
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9:24.99
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7. William Campbell
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Appalachian State
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9:26.63
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8. Trevor Ricks
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Weber State
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9:28.89
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9. Travis Beniak
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Augustana (S.D.)
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9:33.72
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10. Michael Kiley
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unattached
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9:36.48
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11. Kyle Shepard
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unattached
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9:37.89
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12. Asher Delmott
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Emporia State
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9:42.63
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13. Dylan Sorensen
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unattached
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9:46.60
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14. Jay McIllece
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unattached
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9:49.55
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15. Shawn Roberts
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unattached
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10:00.32
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16. Jason Zayac
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Rochester
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10:12.26
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17. Daniel Friesen
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Seattle Pacific
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10:14.36
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18. Evan Caldwell
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unattached
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10:26.96
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-- Gus McKenzie
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unattached
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DNF
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