June 2, 1999
SOUTH BEND, Ind. – Making his first-ever appearance in the NCAA outdoor track and field championships, Notre Dame sophomore Ryan Shay (Central Lake, Mich.) placed seventh in the 10,000 meters with a time of 29:55.78 to earn All-America status Friday night in Boise, Idaho.
Shay, who qualified for the meet with the 11th-best mark in the country of 29:01.59, beat out Chris Bailey of Illinois State for seventh place by just under five seconds, while he trailed the sixth-place runner, Arizona’s Abdi Abdirahman, who completed the race in 29:34.03. Stanford swept the top three spots in the race with Nathan Nutter taking home first with a winning time of 29:11.96.
Shay’s seventh-place finish is Notre Dame’s best-ever at 10,000 meters. Former Irish All-American Jason Rexing ran in the 10,000-meter race three straight times from 1996-98, placing 13th twice and 14th in 1998.
Earlier this season, Shay earned All-BIG EAST status with a second-place finish in the 10,000 meters at the conference championships. He also was Notre Dame’s lone representative at the 1998 NCAA cross country championships and earned the team’s MVP award.
Besides Shay, the Irish also are represented at the championships by high jumper Jennifer Engelhardt (Battle Creek, Mich.) and junior distance runners JoAnna Deeter (Glen Ellyn, Ill.) and Alison Klemmer (Troy, Mich.), who will be competing Thursday in the women’s 10,000 meters. Senior pole vaulter Mike Brown will also get his last opportunity in an NCAA championship Friday night, while Deeter will participate in the 5,000 meters on Saturday evening.
1999 NCAA Outdoor Track and Field Championships, June 2-5
Boise, Idaho (Boise State)
All times are local and tentative.
Wednesday, June 2 Friday, June 4Ryan Shay, 10,000 meters Mike Brown, pole vault (6:00 p.m.)Seventh place (29:55.78)
Saturday, June 5Thursday, June 3 JoAnna Deeter, 5,000 meters (8:45 p.m.)Jennifer Engelhardt, high jump (6:15 p.m.) JoAnna Deeter, Alison Klemmer, 10,000 meters (8:10 p.m.)