PHILADELPHIA, Penn. - BYU's James Corrigan ran 8:13.87 in the 3,000-meter steeplechase on Saturday evening at the Penn Relays Summer Showcase to go under the Olympic Standard and punch his ticket to Paris.
Corrigan qualified for his first Olympic team and broke the program record after running under the Olympic standard by more than one second, 8:15.00. The sophomore was paced through the first 2,000-meters by Daniel Michalski assisted by Colin Daly and Derek Johnson. Amidst windy and hot conditions, Corrigan ran a controlled pace throughout the race and let loose on the homestretch to cross the tape in 8:13.87 securing his spot in Paris.
"The amount of pressure that was on this young man was unreal," said BYU director of track and field Ed Eyestone. "To finish in the top-three at the Olympic Trials, then being asked to essentially run sub 8:15.00 and also to come out here in not ideal weather conditions and perform like he did was amazing. He had the confidence and faith to get the job done. With two laps to go I could tell he was tired but could also smell his Olympic berth. It was an impressive performance."
The distance runner from Los Angeles, California had taken third in the finals of the the event at the U.S. Track and Field Olympic Trials in Eugene, Oregon last Sunday but hadn't acheived the Olympic standard and sat out the top-36 spots in the World Athletics Rankings. He was added to the field earlier this week in hopes of running under the standard to secure his spot on the Olymipc team.
The BYU track and field program will currently send six total athletes to the Olympic Games, five alums and now Corrigan.
"Success breeds success," said Eyestone. "I think when people see their teammates and guys who they train with day in and day out do great things, they say, 'Why not me?' It's a fun time to be a Cougar, and fun time to be part of BYU track and field."
On the other side of the coast, senior BYU thrower Dallin Shurts placed 11th in the final of the men's discus throw at the U.S. Track and Field Olympic Trials at Hayward Field in Eugene, Oregon. Shurts tossed for a 59.53m/195-3 mark. Finishing his stint in a BYU uniform, Shurts leaves the program with the school record of 66.58m/218-5 he achieved earlier this year.
The final day of competition at the U.S. Track and Field Olympic Trials will feature BYU alum Abraham Alvarado in the final of the men's 800-meter set for 4:51 p.m. PT. Find all broadcast and live results information on the Meet Central page.