LEXINGTON, Ky. – Eastern Kentucky University's Kristian Imroth and Taha Er Raouy punched their tickets to the NCAA Outdoor Track and Field Championships on Friday night.
 
Four Colonels have now qualified for the NCAA Championships, which will be held June 10-13 at Hayward Field in Eugene, Oregon. That is tied for the most NCAA qualifiers in program history.
 
Edna Chelulei and Brighter Jepchumba will look to qualify in the women's 5,000 meters on Saturday at the NCAA East First Rounds.
 
Imroth punched his ticket to Eugene for the third consecutive year in the men's 3,000-meter steeplechase on Friday. He finished second overall at the East First Rounds, clocking a 10-second personal-best time of 8:20.50. That is the second fastest steeplechase time in EKU history and less than two seconds off Ahmed Jaziri's school record.
 
EKU has now had a man qualify for the 3,000-meter steeplechase at 13 of the last 14 NCAA Outdoor Championships.
 
Er Raouy qualified in the men's 5,000 meters on Friday, placing third overall at the East First Rounds with a six-second personal-best time of 13:30.21. That is also the second fastest time in EKU history and just over a second off Jacob Korir's 18-year old school record.
 
This is Er Raouy's first time qualifying for the NCAA Outdoor Championships. He competed in the 5,000 meters at the NCAA Indoor Championships in Fayetteville, Arkansas in February.
 
Bradley Giblin placed 19^th in the men's 1,500 meters quarterfinals on Friday (3:43.85), while Mario Priego Montero 31^st in the men's 5,000 meters semifinal (14:14.96).
 
Chelulei and Jepchumba will race in the semifinals on the women's 5,000 meters on Saturday night at 8:10 p.m. ET.