Miller is set for finals in national track meet

Sunday News

Jun 28, 2009 00:19 EST

Eugene

By STAFF

Manheim Township graduate Craig Miller has earned a spot among the nation's top performers in the 1,500 meters.

Miller, who recently completed his junior season at the University of Wisconsin, will run in the finals of the USA Outdoors Track and Field Championships today at Hayward Field in Eugene, Ore.

Miller qualified for the finals by running 3:41.10 Thursday to finish with the fourth-fastest time among 46 runners in four preliminary sections.

Twelve runners advanced to the finals, which are at 5:31 p.m. today. NBC's two-hour live coverage of the meet is scheduled to start at 4 p.m.

The top two finishers in the 1,500 will receive automatic berths to the U.S. team for the IAAF World Championships in Athletics Aug. 15-23 in Berlin.

Former NCAA champion Leonel Manzano had Thursday's fastest qualifying time at 3:39.91.

The top two finishers in each heat and the next four fastest times advanced to the final. Each of the four qualifiers on time came out of Miller's section.

"That was a tough race," Miller said in a Wisconsin press release. "I'm really happy to get through and get to the final."

Miller was a factor throughout the race, running the second-fastest split of anyone on the second lap of his heat. He was third through 800 meters, and remained third at the bell lap, running as part of a five-man breakaway at the front of the field.

Miller was battling among those top five with 200 meters to go and made a move to the outside as the lead pack hit the final straightaway, pulling into fourth place down the stretch.

"I knew it was going to be the fastest prelim, and I just sprinted as hard as I could the last 100 meters," he said.

The finalists and their preliminary times (winners of each section are ranked 1-4; second-place finishers are 5-8; and four qualifiers on time are 9-12): 1. Leonel Manzano, Nike, 3:39.91; 2. Dorian Ulrey, Arkansas, 3:41.42; 3. William Leer, Oregon TC Elite, 3:42.18; 4. Lopez Lomong, Nike, 3:44.62; 5. Stephen Pifer, Oregon TC Elite, 3:40.83; 6. Andrew Jesien, Virginia, 3:41.78; 7. Alan Webb, Nike, 3:42.35; 8. Christopher Lukezic, Reebok, 3:45.60; 9. Jeff See, Ohio State, 3:40.95; 10. Craig Miller, unattached, 3:41.10; 11. Jordan McNamara, Oregon, 3:41.15; 12. Darren Brown, unattached, 3:41.60.