Ex-Coug wins U.S. steeplechase title

Josh McAdams, a former BYU collegiate champion who lives and trains in Provo, won the 3,000-meter steeplechase Sunday afternoon at the USA national track and field championships in Indianapolis.

Not only did McAdams claim a national championship, but by placing in the top three he secured a place on the national team that will represent the United States in the World track and field championships later this summer in Osaka, Japan.

"Our goal coming in was to make the top three and make the team," said McAdams' coach, Ed Eyestone, "but halfway through the race he was not content with that and wanted to win the thing."

McAdams pulled off one of the biggest upsets of national championships by beating American record holder Dan Lincoln. It was a two-man race on the last lap, and with 300 meters to go McAdams passed Dan Lincoln and pulled away. McAdams, with a last-lap kick of 58 seconds, wound up winning the race by some three seconds with a time of 8 minutes, 24 seconds.

"I haven't seen a finishing kick like that since Henry Marsh," said Eyestone, referring to the former BYU Olympic steeplechaser. "He beat all the big guns today."

"I have never been close to those guys before today," said McAdams, referring to the top American steeplechasers. "This has been a breakout year for me."

McAdams, who closed his collegiate career last year by winning the steeplechase at the NCAA track championships, has shaved a whopping 13 seconds off his best time this season, running 8:21 en route to a second-place finish at the Prefontaine Classic.

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