TAMPA, Fla. (5/24/2018) -- University of Detroit Mercy senior track and field runner Ben Kendell placed 20th in the NCAA Championship Preliminary Rounds from USF Track & Field Stadium on the campus of the University of South Florida.

Kendell placed 20th in the 10,000-meters with a time of 30:06.40. He managed to knock off in-state foes from Eastern Michigan, Michigan State and Michigan as well as a conference rival from IUPUI, but missed NCAA championship qualification by a mere 30 seconds. 

"A good run and he was on back of the lead pack at the 5k at 15:00," said Director of Track and Field/Cross Country Guy Murray '89. "He just couldn't move into the pack. It was a strong field and good experience for making a run next year."

Kendell was looking to place in the top 12, which would have qualified him for the upcoming NCAA Championships. 

Going into that race, Kendell had the fifteenth best time out of all racers, leaving him just outside the qualification zone. Kendell was looking to heed the advice of coach Murray by staying competitive the entire race and ending it with a minute or less final lap, boosting him over the top and into NCAA qualification. 

Kendell had a consistent pace the entire time, clocking his 5k at 15:00, but just could not quite move up into the pack to make the push for top 12. 

He will take this as a good learning experience for his redshirt senior season next year, where he will look to get over the hump and qualify for the NCAA Championships.