Naperville, IL --- Sophomore Terrence Gibson (Rockland, MA) placed second in the 60 meter hurdle trials with a school-record time of 8.10 as he advances to tomorrow's finals at the NCAA Division III Indoor Championships hosted by North Central College.
Gibson, who was 0.01 off the top time of third-year TJ Valley (Prairie du Chen, WI), also won the first heat and assured a match-up with junior Adam Scaleese (Longview, WA) of Coast Guard, the only competitor from New England left in the field.
Scaleese, who had the third-fastest time in the trials, has been neck and neck with Gibson in the hurdles this indoor track postseason.
The finals of the 60 meter hurdles is slated for 2:55 PM EST tomorrow. The top eight fininishers are guarenteed All-American accolades.
Scaleese and Valley were seventh and eighth, respectively, for their clubs last season in the 60 meter hurdles as the only returning All-Americans who are in the hunt for the crown this year.
The previous school record (8.13) was set by Gibson two weeks ago in trials of the Open New England Championships. Coming into this evening's competition, it was the fifth-fastest time in Division III.
Gibson is the first Worcester State student-athlete since 2000-01 to compete at the NCAA Division III Indoor Championships. WSU Lancer Hall of Famer Stanley Egbor was the National Finalist in the 55 meters.
NCAA Division III Indoor Track and Field Championship Website