FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. - Hundreds of Division I student-athletes competed in the men's 800-meter race this 2020-21 indoor season. The top 16 in the event qualified for the NCAA Track & Field Championships, and of those, only eight earned a lane in the title race.
Western Illinois' Ackeen Colley made the cut.
Colley finished Friday's (March 12) semifinal with a new personal record of 1:48.56, which also cemented a new indoor record for Western Illinois. The Leatherneck newcomer clocked the program's fastest 800-meter race in his debut appearance at the GVSU Big Meet (Feb. 13) and has now broken the mark twice.
"What a great moment for Ackeen. He is such a competitor. To be honest, it wasn't his best race tactically, but when you have done the work and have the drive that he does, a guy like that can dig deep and find a way. We're going to re-watch the race together and start to put together a plan for the final. He's got his eyes on placing as high as possible and I know he's got a better race still in the tank. I can't wait to see him continue to represent our university and program in such a great way," said assistant coach Brandon Hazouri.
The men's 800-meter final is scheduled to begin at 2:40 p.m. on Saturday.
800-Meter Qualifiers
Jason Gomez | Iowa State | 1:47.65
Samuel Voelz | Notre Dame | 1:47.82
Takieddine Hededilli | Texas Tech | 1:48.07
Bashir Mosavel-lo | Virginia Tech | 1:48.18
Charlie Hunter | Oregon | 1:48.47
Finley McLear | Miami (Ohio) | 1:48.56
Ackeen Colley | Western Illinois | 1:48.56
Kieran Taylor | Arkansas | 1:49.01
