EUGENE, Ore. – Eastern Kentucky University's Ahmed Jaziri  will race for a national title on Friday.
 
Jaziri automatically advanced to the finals of the men's 3,000-meter steeplechase at the NCAA Outdoor Track and Field Championships on Wednesday night at Hayward Field, comfortably taking third in his heat with a time of 8:26.27.
 
The top five finishers from both heats, plus the next two fastest times, advanced to Friday's final.
 
Jaziri – a native of Rades, Tunisia – cruised to the big 'Q', clocking his fastest time since he ran a then-collegiate leading 8:24.33 at the Payton Jordan Invitational on April 30.
 
It is the second consecutive year Jaziri has advanced to the NCAA steeplechase final. He finished 10^th overall last year at Hayward Field.
 
It is the seventh time in the last eight years EKU has sent a man to the NCAA steeplechase final. Ole Hesslebjerg (bronze in 2014 and 2015) and Jamaine Coleman (silver in 2018) both medaled.
 
Jaziri will race for a national championship on ESPN2 Friday night at 9:24 p.m. ET.
 
Freshman Ahmed Sayf Kadri finished 18^th overall in the steeplechase on Wednesday, recording a time of 8:45.69.
 
He was one of only five freshmen to qualify for the NCAA Championships in the steeplechase.