JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – The Georgetown track & field team had a pair of athletes competing in the steeplechase, one apiece in the men's and women's fields, on the second day of the 2019 NCAA Outdoor Championships East Preliminary held at Hodges Stadium on the campus of the University of North Florida. The three-day meet in Jacksonville serves as a precursor to the final site of the NCAA Outdoor Championships, this year held in Austin, Texas and hosted by the University of Texas.
 
Christian Liddell (Rogers, Ark. / Rogers / Oklahoma State) competed in the first of a three-heat quarterfinal in the men's 3,000-meter steeplechase. With the top three from each heat advancing along with the three fastest times from the event, Liddell moved his way to the front early. He held on with a quick pace through the majority of the race until the final two laps when the lead pack went through the bell just a few seconds faster. He crossed the line with a time of 8:54.15 to finish sixth in his heat. Following the final two heats, Liddell's time was 15th overall with the top 12 advancing to the semifinals in Austin.
 
Meg Mathison (Middleton, Wis. / Waunakee / Carleton College) competed in the final heat of the women's 3,000-meter steeplechase. She finished ninth in her heat with a time of 10:32.60 and had the fifth-fastest split on the bell lap from her heat.
 
Georgetown returns to Hodges Stadium on Saturday with one competitor each in the men's 1,500-meter quarterfinals and women's 5,000-meter semifinals.
 
Georgetown NCAA Track & Field Championships East Preliminary Results
Women's 3,000-Meter Steeplechase Quarterfinal
33. Meg Mathison, 10:32.60 (H3: 9th)
 
Men's 3,000-Meter Steeplechase Quarterfinal
15. Christian Liddell, 8:54.15 (H1: 6th)
 
Georgetown NCAA Track & Field Championships East Preliminary Schedule (all times Eastern and subject to change)
Saturday, May 25
6:45 p.m. – Men's 1,500-Meter Quarterfinal (H2 of 2: Spencer Brown)
8:05 p.m. – Women's 5,000-Meter Semifinal (H2 of 2: Josette Norris)