Itay Magidi Qualifies for Steeplechase Finals at NCAA Championships

June 8, 2006

Sacramento, CA – The prelims of the 3000m steeplechase at the NCAA Championships were held late Wednesday night at the Alex G. Spanos Sports Complex on the campus of Sacramento State. Clemson junior Itay Magidi recorded the fourth-best time and has advanced to the finals of the event for the third time in his career. On each of the two previous occasions, Magidi has earned All-America honors.

Magidi finished fourth in the first of two heats and turned in the fourth-best time of the day with an 8:39.59. It marked his best effort of the season. With his advancement into Saturday’s final, it means Magidi will now have two days of rest between running. In past years, the steeplechase final was held just two days after the prelims were run, thus only giving competitors one day of rest.

Magidi was an All-American in both 2003 and 2005 in the steeplechase. In 2003 as a freshman, he was eighth overall. Last season, he ran a personal best 8:34.12 and finished seventh.

Clemson multi-event athlete Ryan Koontz will complete the final five events of the decathlon Thursday, while freshman sprinter Travis Padgett will compete in the 100m prelims.