Tech’s Lane to compete in NCAA final

Courtesy of MTU Athletics

ALLENDALE, Mich. – Michigan Tech’s Jani Lane advanced to the Saturday’s (May 24) championship race in the 1500 meter run at the 2014 NCAA Division II Outdoor Track and Field Championships on Thursday (May 22). Finals begin at 5:35 p.m. and can be watched live at http://www.ncaa.com/liveschedule. NCAAs are being hosted by Grand Valley State.

“It was a little nerve racking for us coaches and his parents watching down here today, but he knew what he was doing and accomplished the goal for the day,” Tech coach Joe Haggenmiller said. “Now he has a day to recover and come back Saturday and hopefully light it up.”

Lane finished fourth in the first heat of the preliminary round. He ran the fifth best time in school history in 3:55.61. The top four from the two heats advanced along with the top four times from the remaining athletes. Ten runners ran each heat.

“Jani’s heat was the slower of the two, but he had to kick it in during the final lap to stay in the top four,” added Haggenmiller.

Lane ran the fifth best time in the country during the season with a school record time of 3:46.53. He now holds four of the top five times in Tech history in the event.