Colorado State University Athletics
CSU's Buchanan falls in NCAA 1,500-meter prelims
6/11/2009 12:00:00 AM | Outdoor Track & Field
June 11, 2009
By Nick Sebesta
Athletic Media Relations
FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. - CSU junior middle-distance runner Wil Buchanan failed to make it out of the preliminary round of the 1,500-meter race in his NCAA championship debut Thursday night at the University of Arkansas. He was seeded 22nd in a very competitive field of runners and ended up finishing 25th with a time of 3 minutes, 58.31 seconds.
Only the top 12 times make it through to the final round of the NCAA meet.
Buchanan started the race out in front, but was unable to keep up his pace halfway through.
"This was not the kind of race we were looking for," said Head Coach Brian Bedard. "He was out the first two laps and went out leading the race, which is not really where we wanted him to be, that wasn't the strategy. It kind of freaked him out a bit, and when the pack started to move, he just didn't go with them."
Although his season is through, Buchanan, a Fort Collins native, will have more experience to build on for the 2009-10 season.
On Wednesday, seniors Alex Godell and Missy Faubus were unable to get out of the preliminary rounds of their events of shot put and hammer throw, respectively.