McNeill Finishes Runner-Up in 3,000-Meter Run
Photo by Cheryl Treworgy/PrettySporty
FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – Senior David McNeill of Northern Arizona came up just short of becoming the fourth male to double in the 3,000 and 5,000-meter runs in one weekend Saturday evening. McNeill finished runner-up behind Arkansas senior Dorian Ulrey of Arkansas who claimed the 3,000-meter national championship in front of his home crowd at the Randal Tyson Track Center.
McNeill finished in a time of 8:10.96, just over four-tenths of a second behind Ulrey, to earn his 8th All-American award of his career. The first and second-place finish by McNeill this weekend gave the Lumberjacks an eighth-place team finish (18 points), the highest in school history at a track and field national championship event.
The previous high was a 10th-place finish in 2006 when Johanna Nillson won both the mile and 3K to give the Lumberjacks 20 points. This is the second top-10 finish at a track and field championship for NAU.
Interim Director of Track and Field & Cross Country Eric Heins thought that because of McNeill's all-out effort in last night's 5,000-meter, the Australian native may have had a little less in the tank in the 3K.
"He didn't feel 100 percent going into the race, but that's what happens when you run 13:36 in a 5K the previous night," Heins said. "I think that caused him to not have the lead there over the last 400 meters like he did last night. He ran really tough to get himself back up there at the end."
McNeill thought the race was difficult as well, but is pleased with his overall efforts from this weekend.
"It was a good race, but I didn't have quite the steam left in my legs that I wish I had at the finish," McNeill said. "It was a tough 5K last night, but I am happy with the result. I still did my best tonight."
The second-place finish looks to provide motivation for McNeill heading into the outdoor season.
"It is certainly motivating to get in even better shape for the outdoor season and hopefully be even sharper come June," McNeill said.
The race started off with a slow tempo, leaving the field bunched up for much of the race. McNeill, shuffled to the back at the beginning of the race, overtook the pack on the sixth lap and led until Ulrey overtook him with just over 400 meters left. On the last lap McNeill tried to pass the eventual champion from the outside, but was unable to do so.
For McNeill, the outdoor campaign awaits him and the rest of the Lumberjacks beginning next week as they travel to Tempe to compete in the Baldy Castillo Invite on the campus of Arizona State.
