Men's Track

Walker Yane Finishes Eighth in Steeplechase;
Earns All-America Team Honor

For Immediate Release:
May 25, 2007

OSHKOSH, Wis. — Walker Yane '07 made history on Friday night (May 25) as he became Earlham College's first National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division III All-American in men's track and field.

Walker Yane

Earlham's Walker Yane finished eighth in the 3,000-meter steeplechase at the NCAA Division III Men's Outdoor Track and Field Championships on
May 25.

Yane (Oldenburg, IN/St. Xavier, OH) broke his own school record in the 3,000-meter steeplechase with a time of 9:07.66 to finish eighth at the NCAA Division III Men's Outdoor Track and Field Championships. The national meet is being held on the University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh's J.J. Keller Field at Titan Stadium from May 24-26.

The top eight finishers in each event earn a place on the Division III All-America team.

"I don't know if I can really express what I'm feeling," Yane said. "I knew I could do it, but during the race, I was thinking I should just be happy that I'm here."

At the one-mile mark, Yane was last in the field of 17 competitors. "It was such a blistering pace," Earlham Head Track Coach Nick Johnson said.

"The other runners were just too far ahead. There was a point where I didn't think I could get eighth place," said Yane. "It was a fast field and everybody went out really quickly, and I didn't start passing people for quite some time.

"I was scared," he added. "As the race progressed, I was hoping to begin passing people as they slowed down and got tired."

Throughout the race, Yane was able to keep track of the other runners as he passed them. The final circuit was critical for Yane as he worked his way through the field. "I was in 10th until the last lap, and I knew the race was for eighth," he said.

"I was able to catch those last two guys in the final 400 meters, and as we were coming around the turn I had counted everyone," Yane said. "To be able to pull it out in the last lap was really exciting."

"Walker had to move up, and he was able to do that," said Johnson. "He showed what kind of heart and ability he has with that comeback."

First-year Peter Kosgei of Hamilton College won the event with a time of 8:55.41. The only other runner from Indiana competing in the event was DePauw University's Chad Bennett who had a time of 9:15.63 to finish in 11th place.

— EC —

Contact:
Don Tincher, sports information director
765/983-1795 — E-Mail Don