University of Akron junior Clayton Murphy finished first in the 1,500 meters with a time of 3:42.82 at the NCAA East Preliminary on Thursday at North Florida University in Jacksonville.
Murphy advances to the quarterfinal round on Saturday with a chance to advance to the finals and then to the NCAA Championships in Eugene, Ore., on June 8-11.
Kent State’s Jackie Leppelmeier finished third in the women’s hammer with a toss of 200-11 to advance to the NCAA Championships. Akron’s Megan Dornisch failed to qualify.
Akron’s Joseph Oduho and Terrell McClain advanced to the NCAA Championships with an eighth- and 10th-place finishes, respectively, in the men’s long jump.