RELEASE DATE: 3/11/06

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Chris Cummings becomes first NCAA Division II track All-American from Mansfield University

BOSTON, MASS – Chris Cummings again made school history as he finished sixth in the indoor mile at the NCAA Division II National Championships in Boston Saturday to become the first person in Mansfield University history to be named NCAA Division II All-American in any track and field event.

Cummings, a junior and a native of Mansfield, leaped over two runners who had fallen near the final quarter mile mark and finished strong, passing two more runners in the final eighth of a mile, to complete the course in 4:09.34.

“He flew like superman and then ran a 58 (second) quarter mile,” track head coach Michael Rohl said.

Cummings stayed with the 10-runner pack throughout the race and kicked up his speed at the end. He finished the final quarter mile in a time of 58.5 seconds, including a 28.2 time in the final eighth of a mile.

“I did not expect to finish that well,” Cummings commented after the race. “So I am happy with how well I placed.”

Cummings is the first runner in any track and field event to garner All-American honors in Division II since the Mountaineers started competing at that level in 1984.

Cummings also made history Friday by becoming just the first Mountaineer to compete in the indoor finals. On Friday, Cummings finished his heat in sixth place in a time of 4:09.07. The top three finishers in each heat are awarded with a trip to the finals along with the next four fastest times. Chris’ time was fast enough to secure the tenth and final qualifying spot in the final.

His times on Friday and Saturday are his second and third best times at Mansfield. He set the school record for the mile during the Kent State Tune Up in February, posting a time of 4:08.45.