Blackbirds Gear Up For NCAA Track & Field Championship

6/6/06 -- All-American Bryan Steele (Gaithersburg, Md.) and Michael Hillian (Voorhees, N.J.) are set to compete at the NCAA Track & Field Championships in Sacramento held June 7-10 at the Alex G. Spanos Sports Complex on the campus of Sacramento State.

Steele, recently named Northeast District Division I Athlete of the Year by the United States Track and Field and Cross Country Coaches Association, will run the 400-meter hurdles. He took first place in the event at the regional championships with a season-best time of 49.65 to earn a spot at the national competition.

The senior was a first team All- Northeast Conference selection in the 400-meter hurdles and the 4x100-meter relay. He also won the 400-meter hurdles at the prestigious Penn Relays in this season, crossing the line in a blistering 49.98.

Hillian will compete in the 400-meter dash after capturing fourth at the regional championships, recording a season-best 46.33. The New Jersey native won both the 200 and 400-meter dashes and helped the 4x100 and 4x200-meter relays teams to first place showings at the NEC Championship this past May where he was named Outstanding Track Performer for the second consecutive year.

The competition will commence on Wednesday, June 7 when Hillian will run the first round of the 400-meter dash trials at 6:10 pm PDT. Steele takes the track on Thursday, June 8 for first round of 400-meter hurdle championship at 4:30 pm PDT. The finals for both events will take place on Saturday, June 10.

Complete Schedule of Events