CHARLOTTE, N.C. (May 29, 2010) - Nova Southeastern University men's track and field's Carlyle Thompson (Jr., Nassau, Bahamas) ran the fastest 400-meter hurdle time in program history on Saturday night as he placed sixth in 400-meter hurdle finals at the 2010 NCAA Outdoor Track and Field National Championships at Irwin Belk Complex.
"This was a good experience," said Thompson. "We had a lot of rain, which I did not like. Under the circumstance, I did not run as well as I thought I would, but I'm happy with the sixth-place finish."
"I thought it was awesome," said head coach Bryan Hagopian. "Carlyle got out hard like he was supposed to. He had a little trouble with hurdles numbers two and eight, which took him off his race a bit. We're proud of him and look for more great things from him next year."
Competing in a fast finals field, Thompson clocked a school and personal record time of 51.66, breaking his previous school record of 51.99 that was set on Thursday night during the 400-meter hurdle prelims at the national championships. Leford Green from Johnson C. Smith won the race with a time of 48.67, which is the third-fastest time in the 400-meter hurdles in NCAA Outdoor Track and Field National Championships history.
Thompson is the first-ever NSU athlete from either the men's or the women's team to compete at the NCAA Outdoor Track and Field Championships. Additionally, by finishing in the Top-8 of the 400-meter hurdles, Thompson earned All-America honors in the event.
Thompson's sixth-place finish also earned NSU three points in the team standings.
"This was a big step in the right direction for our program," said Hagopian. "With more people competing - like Carlyle - and more recruits coming in, this is a great starting block. I just see in the future that our teams will finish in the Top-20 in the next couple of years."
NCAA National Championships 400-Meter Hurdles - Final Results
1. Leford Green (Johnson C. Smith) - 48.67
2. Steve Banton (Lincoln (Mo.)) - 49.35
3. Sabiel Anderson (Lincoln (Mo.)) - 49.82
4. Terry Robinson (Missouri S&T) - 50.98
5. Anthony Cooper (Central Missouri) - 51.41
6. Carlyle Thompson (NSU) - 51.66
7. Ethan Snyder (Lake Erie) - 51.96
8. Bill Cameron (Northern State) - 52.76
