Lehigh University Athletics
Kosgei, Pierce earn bids to NCAA First Round
5/18/2012 8:31:00 PM | Athletics
BETHLEHEM, Pa. – Two student-athletes from the Lehigh track and field team will participate in the 2012 NCAA East Regional which will be held in Jacksonville, Fla. on the campus of the University of North Florida on May 24-26. Senior Katherine Pierce will be racing in the 10,000-meter run on Thursday at 9:40 p.m. while senior Evans Kosgei will compete in the 3000-meter steeplechase Friday at 8:50 p.m.
It is Kosgei's second consecutive year qualifying for the NCAA Regional in the 3000m steeplechase as he placed 30th in last year's event with a time of 9:03. The Moiben, Kenya native set the school record in the 3000m steeplechase this season at the Princeton Larry Ellis Invitational with a time of 8:52.41, surpassing the previous school record of 8:54.72 which was set in 2002 by Alex L'Heureux.
Kosgei's time ranks him No. 14 out of the 48 that qualified.
Kosgei is coming off a stellar Patriot League Championship, earning All-league honors after scoring in three events: 10,000 meter run (second), 3,000 meter steeplechase (second) and the 5,000 meter run (fourth).
Pierce qualified for her first NCAA Regional with a time of 35:05.94, which she ran at the Stanford Invitational and set a new school record, crushing her own Lehigh record of 35:42.68. Her time ranks her No. 33 out of the 48 that qualified.
Pierce earned All-Patriot League honors this season after placing second in the 10,000m run at the Patriot League Championships. Pierce also has had success off the track as she was named to the Academic All-Patriot League team.
Both Kosgei and Pierce will need to finish in the top 12 in order to earn All-American status and advance to the NCAA Championships on June 6-9 in Des Moines, Iowa.
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