CANISIUS COLLEGE ATHLETICS
LEXINGTON, Ky. — Senior Cooper Roach concluded the 2017 outdoor track season Friday evening, running to a 16th place finish in the 3K steeplechase event from the NCAA Men’s Outdoor Track and Field Preliminary Championships.
Roach became the first-ever Canisius runner to compete in an NCAA Championship event, ending with a time of 8:52.12 in the east preliminary race.
In what was the final race of his five-year career, the senior missed qualifying for the NCAA finals by only four spots, and 5.5 seconds, as the top-12 runners moved on to the championships to be held in Eugene, Ore. June 7-10.
Roach ends a tremendous outdoor season that saw him twice break a school record in the 3K steeplechase event, while he also gained the best time in the event for the MAAC during the 2017 outdoor track season (8:49.61).
Head Coach Nate Huckle said, “Cooper got out 15 seconds faster through the mile than he did in qualifying, and was in position to qualify. Unfortunately, he just couldn’t hold onto the pace the last 600 meters.”
“It was a tremendous effort and a strong race to cap his career as a Griff. He helped elevate our program to the next level of performance and exposure, and he walks away as one of the all-time greats to wear the Blue and Gold.”
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