BRADENTON, Fla. — Cedarville University distance runner Daniel Michalski ran to a record-setting victory May 26 in the 3,000-meter steeplechase at the NCAA Division II Men’s Outdoor Track & Field Championship.
He crushed his own school record and set a new IMG Academy facility record with a winning time of 8:44.49.
Michalski, a Xenia High School graduate, is Cedarville’s first NCAA Division II men’s track national champion.
“I knew I wanted to position myself in the front, so I could be somewhat in control of the pacing,” Michalski explained. “If a move was made, I could be in an OK position to respond to it.
“So, I stayed in second or third most of the time. I decided at the second to last water barrier to take over and didn’t look back.”
He was an All-American in the steeple last year by finishing eighth. He was an indoor All-American this winter in both the mile and distance medley relay.
Michalski entered the final with the fourth-fastest time in the country this year at 8:52.01 and then bettered that by more than seven seconds.
He now owns the top two and nine of the top ten steeplechase performances in Cedarville University history.

Story provided by Cedarville University.