Stephen Lisgo Advances To NCAA Steeplechase Finals

Butler’s Stephen Lisgo waited out a long rain delay and then made sure his stay in Fayetteville, Ark., would last a little longer with a solid performance in the men’s 3,000 meter steeplechase at the 2009 NCAA Division I Outdoor Track and Field Championships.  The Butler junior was one of 14 athletes who advanced to the steeplechase finals on Friday, June 12.

Strong thunderstorms that ripped through central Arkansas on Wednesday evening caused a nearly three-hour delay on the first day of the national competition.  Lisgo’s event was scheduled to start at 8:15 p.m. (CT), but it was nearly midnight before he lined up on the track.

The delay slowed the progress of the meet, but it didn’t stop the Butler distance ace.  He wound up placing seventh in the fastest of two heats in the steeplechase and earned a spot in the event finals.  His time of 8:45.40 was the 12th-best time overall.

Junior Joe MacDonald also ran on the first day of the national meet and wound up placing 25th in the men’s 5,000 in 14:20.30.  The top 16 runners in the event advanced to Saturday’s finals.