Mestler Advances to Steeple Final

EUGENE, Ore. – From volunteering as a basket carrier the previous three Olympic Trials, Eugene native Jackson Mestler made his meet debut Monday afternoon by qualifying for the final in the 3,000-meter steeplechase. He finished in 8:33.09 to claim the fifth—and automatic qualifying—spot in the second of two heats.
 
The final is scheduled for Friday at 4:42 p.m. (PT).
 
"You heard the cheer when they did introductions," Mestler said. "There's something special here, something in the steeple water…there's obviously Hayward Magic when everyone's in the building.
 
"I vividly remember handing me their sweats in that exact same spot where those basket people were today. So I gotta look at a kid and make sure he picks my basket because that made an impression on me and I hope to leave that impression on someone else."
 
In the Ducks' other result Monday, Isaiah Griffith finished sixth in the men's triple jump.
 
Click HERE for live results.
 
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4:29 p.m. – men's steeplechase | first round
Who: Jackson Mestler
What: Top five in each heat + next four fastest advance to final (6/25 – 4:42 p.m.)
Result: With a lap to go, Jackson sat in sixth place and had slipped to seventh with 200 meters to go. The two runners directly ahead of him had difficulty with water jump but Mestler successfully navigated the barrier to put himself in qualifying position. Heat two was the slower of the two sections so getting the fifth-place finish was crucial in moving on to the final. The Eugene native entered the race with a personal best of 8:27.65 from the TrackTown Qualifier (June 13). Mestler is one of three collegians to advance.
 
4:40 p.m. – men's triple jump | final
Who: Isaiah Griffith
What: Three jumps each, then top eight advance to final round of three more jumps
Result: After an opening-round foul, Griffith got on the board with a mark of 16.04m/52-7.5 in the second round. He improved to sixth with a day's best measure of 16.48m/54-1 in the third round to safely move into the finals. However, Griffith fouled in the fourth round and passed on his last two jumps. Will Claye (17.21m/56-5.75) won the competition with his jump in the sixth round. 
 
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