Middle Tennessee State University Athletics

Laari, Egbeniyi to compete for national championship
3/10/2017 9:44:00 PM | Track & Field/Cross Country
Rutto, Abu land Second Team All-American honors
COLLEGE STATION, Texas — Two Blue Raiders qualified for Saturday's NCAA Indoor Championship finals after a successful day in preliminaries on the track.
 
Junior Sampson Laari led off the day in the mile run by qualifying for Saturday's final. The Ghana native clocked a 4:00.73 time and finished fifth in the second heat and ninth overall.
 
Sophomore Abike Egbeniyi followed Laari by finishing fourth overall in the women's 800-meter run with a time of 2:04.78 to solidify a shot at Saturday's championship.
 
"Sampson and Abike both ran really good races," Head Coach Dean Hayes said. "Abike ran a tough race and did a nice job to qualify. I'm very proud of our athletes today."
 
Eliud Rutto garnered Second Team All-American honors after placing seventh in the men's 800-meter run with a time of 1:48.41.
Agnes Abu also claimed Second Team All-American honors in Friday's preliminaries, clocking a time of 2:06.16 to place fifth in the second heat and 11th overall in the women's 800-meter run.
 
Laari will compete in the men's mile final Saturday at 4:10 p.m. with Egbeniyi competing in the women's 800-meter run scheduled for 5:20 p.m.
 
Junior Sampson Laari led off the day in the mile run by qualifying for Saturday's final. The Ghana native clocked a 4:00.73 time and finished fifth in the second heat and ninth overall.
Sophomore Abike Egbeniyi followed Laari by finishing fourth overall in the women's 800-meter run with a time of 2:04.78 to solidify a shot at Saturday's championship.
"Sampson and Abike both ran really good races," Head Coach Dean Hayes said. "Abike ran a tough race and did a nice job to qualify. I'm very proud of our athletes today."
Eliud Rutto garnered Second Team All-American honors after placing seventh in the men's 800-meter run with a time of 1:48.41.
Agnes Abu also claimed Second Team All-American honors in Friday's preliminaries, clocking a time of 2:06.16 to place fifth in the second heat and 11th overall in the women's 800-meter run.
Laari will compete in the men's mile final Saturday at 4:10 p.m. with Egbeniyi competing in the women's 800-meter run scheduled for 5:20 p.m.
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