The Friends University track and field teams are off to a flying start as four half marathoners qualified for the national championships this weekend in Houston, Texas. It was a memorable experience for all involved as it was in conjunction with the Olympic Marathon Trials. Former Friends University assistant coach Alissa Mckaig placed 8^th in the USA Olympic marathon trials in a time of 2:31:56. McKaig ran both high school and college for current Friends University Coach Brad Peterson.

Senior Javier Ceja ran 67:56 (5:14 per mile) to place 11^th overall for males out of 11,000 runners. This time was over five minutes under the "A" national standard. It also is less than three minutes away from what the Olympic trials marathon standard was this year. He is currently the fastest half marathoner in all of N NAIA.

Senior Daniel Neidlinger ran 71:20 (5:25 per mile) to place 21^st overall for males. This time was almost two minutes under the "A" national standard.

Junior Karissa Cominator ran 83:00 (6:18 per mile) to place 20^th overall for females. This is eight minutes faster than the "A" national standard. She is currently the fastest half marathoner in all of NAIA.

Senior Lindsay Dunham ran 91:00 (6:52 per mile) to place 83^rd overall for females. This was exactly right on the "A" national qualifying mark.

All four runners will run the full marathon at the national championships in Marion, Indiana, in May of this year.