van Ingen advances to finals of mile at NCAA Indoor Track & Field Championships

Two-time All-American places third in his heat, eighth overall

March 9, 2012

van Ingen advances to finals of mile at NCAA Indoor Track & Field Championships

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NAMPA, Idaho—Senior Erik van Ingen has advanced to the finals in the mile at the NCAA Track & Field Championships. The two-day event is being hosted by Boise State at the Jackson Indoor Track Facility.

van Ingen was third in his heat and eighth overall with a time of 4:06.81. There were two heats and the top four finishers plus the next two fastest times advanced to tomorrow’s final, which will be held at 8:15 p.m. and will be carried live on ESPN3.

Sam McEntree of Villanova won the heat van Ingen was in, with a time of 4:06.47. Defending NCAA indoor champion Miles Batty of BYU won the other heat with a time of 4:03.85. van Ingen will carry the eighth-fastest time into tomorrow’s final.

This marks the second straight indoor meet that van Ingen has advanced to the finals. Last year, he placed fifth in the championship race and earn first-team All-America honors. In the ensuing outdoor season, he also earned first-team All-America honors with a sixth-place finish in the 1,500.

van Ingen is taking part in his third consecutive NCAA Indoor Track & Field Championship meet. He is a six-time national qualifier, having also advanced to the 2009 and 2010 NCAA Cross Country Championships.

NOTE: The USTFCCCA will award first-team America honors to the top eight finishers in the championship race. Places 9-16 will earn second-team All-America honors.