LEXINGTON, KY - Iona University men's outdoor track senior Damien Dilcher punched his ticket to Eugene, Oregon, and the NCAA Championship with the fourth fastest time in the 1,500-meter quarterfinal round. Senior Jadyn Tabois and freshman Bradley Giblin also competed for the Gaels at the 2023 NCAA East First Rounds hosted by the University of Kentucky on Friday.

1,500-METER RUN QUARTERFINAL

Racing in an incredibly fast opening 1,500-meter heat, Dilcher crossed fourth and lowered his own school record time of 3:38.85. Villanova's Liam Murphy, the heat winner, broke the course record with his 3:38.30, just over a half second faster than Dilcher. The Iona senior was the first Gael to break the 3:40 barrier when he set the standard with a 3:39.42 at the Wake Forest Invitational on April 19.
 
Dilcher advances to the semifinal round of the 1500 in two weeks, on Wednesday, June 5 at 7:45 p.m. ET at legendary Hayward Field at the University of Oregon.

200-METER DASH QUARTERFINAL

Competing in what would be his final race in Maroon & Gold, Tabois capped a stellar career for the Gaels, posting a time of 20.67 in the 200-meter dash. He finished seventh in his heat and held the 17th fastest time in the four heat quarterfinal round. The mark was .01 off of his career best and school record effort matched just this past Wednesday. Tabois was .03 behind the sixth place finisher in his heat and .29 off the qualifying time of 20.38.

5000-METER RUN SEMIFINAL

Giblin made his NCAA Championships debut for the Gaels and completed 19 of 25 laps but was unable to finish due to illness.

IONA RESULTS

200: Jadyn Tabois, 17th, 20.67. 1500: Damien Dilcher, 4th, 3:38.85. 5k: Bradley Giblin, DNF.

UP NEXT

Dilcher represents the Gaels in Eugene in two weeks on Wednesday, June 5.

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