Bryan Steele Takes Fifth at Jamaica National Track & Field Championships

6/26/06 --Long Island University senior Bryan Steele (Gaithersburg, Md.) competed at the Jamaica National Track & Field Championships in Kingston this past weekend, running the 400-meter hurdles in 49.94 and capturing fifth place.

Steele, LIU’s first two-time track & field All-American honoree, posted a time of 49.63 in the trials to qualify for the finals.

Last year, he took fifth place in the 400 hurdles with a time of 49.26.

The Gaithersburg native finished the 400 hurdles in 49.02 at the NCAA Track & Field Championships in Sacramento on June 10, setting a school record and claiming second place.

His performance marked the highest finish at the NCAA Championships by a Blackbird.

He was named the Northeast District Division I Athlete of the Year by the United States Track and Field and Cross Country Coaches Association and was selected as a member of the All-Northeast Conference first team in both the 400-meter hurdles and 4x100-meter relay. The senior was also tabbed the Long Island University Male Athlete of the Year for the second time (2004, 2006).

Steele had an outstanding season, winning the 400 hurdles at the Penn Relays, Northeast Conference Finals and NCAA East Regionals.