RELEASE DATE: 5/27/06

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Chris Cummings Earns All-American Honors -- Second Place National Finish is Highest Ever by Any Mansfield Athlete

EMPORIA, KANSAS -- Chris Cummings finished second in the 1500 meter finals at the NCAA Division II National Championships Saturday evening earning All-American honors with the highest National finish by any Mansfield athlete in the athletic program's 148 year history.

"It feels good, real good," said Cummings, who earned his second All-American honor this year after placing sixth in the mile at the Indoor National Championships.

Chris compiled a years worth of hard work and determination into two races this week at the NCAA Division II National Championships at Emporia State University in Kansas. Cummings qualified for the finals in the 1500 meter run on Thursday posting the second fastest qualifying time, and then lived up to his word Saturday evening when he finished second in the finals of the National Championship.

Cummings ran 4:01.67 to finish second to Przemek Bobrowski from Harding who out kicked Cummings by only four tenths of a second finishing in 4:01.27, exactly fourteen seconds slower than Chris' school record National qualifying performance. The race was incredibly slow, 2:20 through the first 800 meters (Chris' 5k race pace), for all runners as it turned into a tactical battle for the National crown.

Chris was pinned in sixth position at the halfway mark before the pace quickened pushing him back to eighth place. On the final turn, Cummings moved outside to pass two runners. He continued his renowned kick passing three more athletes in the homestretch and closing to within .40 seconds of the winner at the line.

Cummings finished last in the trials of the 2005 outdoor championships in the 5000 and vowed he would return to the National stage. His second place finish is the highest finish of any athlete in National competition from Mansfield University.

Cummings becomes the second person in Mansfield history to earn Division II All-American honors during the spring season after his teammate Jeremy Confer placed fifth this morning in the javelin.

Mansfield University finishes the 2006 National Championships with 12 points, the highest point total of any PSAC school. With four events left at the time of this release, Mansfield currently is 17th in the team competition out of 46 schools that have scored points.