The University of Southern Indiana track team competed at the NCAA Division II Outdoor Track and Field National Championships this evening in San Angelo, Texas. All three of the Screaming Eagles' runners that qualified for nationals were in action.

Freshman distance runner Casey Schneider (New Salisbury, Indiana), who was the only USI runner to compete in a final Thursday evening, finished 12th in the finals of the 10,000 meters after running a 39:11.36. Schneider, who set the school record in the 10,000 meters with a time of 36:36.60, was the first freshman to qualify for nationals since Jennifer McIntyre qualified in the 10k in 1999.

Junior distance runner Jenny Farmer (Princeton, Indiana) advanced to the finals of the women's 3,000 meters after finishing third in the second heat of the preliminaries with a time of 10:22.73. Farmer, who posted the ninth fastest time of the evening, will run in the finals Friday at 5:30 p.m.

Sophomore distance runner Joey Byrne (Georgetown, Indiana) ran a 9:33.55 in the preliminaries of the men's 3,000-meter steeplechase. The time placed Byrne fourth in the second heat of the event and advanced him to the finals, which will start Friday at 6:40 p.m. Byrne's time was the seventh fastest time of the evening.

Farmer's top time in the 3,000 meters this season is 10:02.32 while Byrne has posted a top time of 9:11.86 in the steeplechase. Both runners will have an opportunity to earn All-America status as the top eight finishers in each event are awarded the honor.