Donavin is fastest qualifier for men's mile finals

COLUMBUS, Ohio - Cornell College senior Kirkwood Donavin takes the fastest qualifying time into the finals of the men's mile run after a record-setting performance Friday afternoon at the NCAA Division III Indoor Track and Field Championships.

Donavin made quite a statement in his national championships debut, winning his heat in 4 minutes, 11.02 seconds and establishing a new Capital Center Track record. The old arena mark was 4:19.14, set by Ohio Northern's James O'Brien in 2009. Donavin also shaved a couple seconds off his own school record of 4:13.06.

Donavin posted the top mark among the 10 finalists that will compete in Saturday's place race at 3:55 p.m. The top eight finishers earn all-America honors.

Donavin, who entered the meet as the No. 10 seed in the 12-man field, finished more than two seconds ahead of the next-fastest qualifier in Friday's two heats.

Donavin will start in Lane 2 in Saturday's race, which features five returning all-Americans and includes 2010 champion Nick Guarino of Fredonia SUNY and runner-up Will Yochum of Amherst.

Russell Speiden of Elizabethtown qualified second in 4:13.20. Gettysburg's Clay Reynolds came in third (4:13.27), New York University's Matt Turlip fourth (4:13.35) and UW-Platteville's Patrick Klein fifth (4:13.36).

Saturday's lane assignments/qualifying times

1. Clay Reynolds (Gettysburg), 4:13.27.

2. Kirkwood Donavin (Cornell), 4:11.02.

3. Matt Turlip (New York University), 4:13.35.

4. Russell Speiden (Elizabethtown), 4:13.20.

5. Greg Whittle (Calvin), 4:17.11.

6. Patrick Klein (UW-Platteville), 4:13.36.

7. Nick Guarino (Fredonia SUNY), 4:16.22.

8. Makorobondo Salukombo (Denison), 4:17.03.

9. Will Yochum (Amherst), 4:17.62.

10. Dennie Waite (College of New Jersey), 4:16.68.