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MU athletes take shot at winning way to NCAA national championship meet.

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By Pete Conrad, Staff Writer Updated 1:51 AM Thursday, May 27, 2010

OXFORD — Miami University junior Katie Lenahan said she wants “to compete against the best.”

She will get her wish today, May 27, as one of eight RedHawks who have qualified for this week’s NCAA Track & Field Championships East Preliminary round.

Lenahan, a Cincinnati native and graduate of Mother of Mercy High School, will compete in the 800-meter run in Greensboro, N.C.

Lenahan’s qualifying time of 2 minutes, 8.69 seconds, which ranks 30th in the field of 48 women, came at the Billy Hayes Invitational on May 7.

“I did so well because I was running against Molly Beckwith of Indiana (Big Ten Conference champion in the 800),” Lenahan said. “You’re keeping your eye on her and holding on for as long as you can.”

In order to qualify for the NCAA Championships June 9-12 at the University of Oregon, she will have to advance past her first- round race, which begins at 8 p.m., and then finish inthe top 12 in the second round at 6:45 p.m. Friday.

“That’s a pretty tall order,” Lenahan said.

Following are the other Miami athletes who are competing in the men’s and women’s events in Greensboro:

• Amanda Mirochna, senior, ranks 41st (out of the 48 East Preliminary qualifiers) in the in the women’s steeplechase at 10:38.11, her winning time in the Mid-American Conference Championships.

• Rachel Patterson, a redshirt sophomore, ranks 32nd in the women’s 5,000 meters (16:34.06).

• Junior Kelley Miller ranks 40th in the women’s 1,500 run (4:26.47).

• Alexandra Roberts, sophomore, ranks 48th in the women’s shot put with a heave of 48 feet, 0.75 inches.

• John Gausmann, junior, ranks 33rd in the men’s discus (172-7).

• Michael McCarty, junior, ranks 45th in the men’s long jump (24-2.25).

• David Serrano, junior, ranks 47th in the men’s high jump (6-9.75).

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