Distance runner Matt McClintock of Athens continued his outstanding spring season on Thursday night, competing in the NCAA East Preliminary Round outdoor track and field meet at the University of North Florida in Jacksonville.
The Purdue University junior overcame a field of 47 competitors to win the 10,000 meters with a time of 29 minutes, 47.98 seconds.
McClintock, a former Madison High School star, was one of 12 men to qualify for the NCAA Division I Men’s Outdoor Track and Field Championships, which are scheduled for June 10-13 at Eugene, Oregon.
The 10,000 meters will be held June 10 at 9:43 p.m.
On Thursday, McClintock beat runner-up Brandon Lord of Georgia (29:52.97) by nearly five seconds. Martin Hehir of Syracuse was third in 29:53.89.
Overall, McClintock’s time was 10th best in the country in NCAA prelim action as nine runners logged faster times at the West regional meet in Austin, Texas. Edward Cheserek of Oregon will be the top seed at nationals after clocking a 29:43.89 on Thursday night.
McClintock recently became the Boilermakers’ first Big Ten men’s champion in the 5,000 meters and was the runner-up in the 10,000 meters.
Last week, he was honored as a District 5 Academic All-American by virtue of his 3.68 grade point average in movement and sports sciences.
In the fall, McClintock claimed a third-place finish at the Big Ten Cross Country Championships and was 19th at the NCAA Championships. He thus became the first man in Purdue history to win multiple All-America accolades.
He placed third in the 5,000 meters at the Big Ten indoor championships last winter and outdoors has eclipsed school records in the 5K (13:56.80) and 10K (28:54.77).
McClintock also owns Purdue’s indoor records in the 3,000 (8:03.70) and 5,000 (13:53.12).
While at Madison, he was a three-time Class C cross-country state champion (2009-11) and won numerous awards. The 2012 graduate was a Footlocker All-American third-team choice as a senior and was twice named the Gatorade Circle of Champions Maine Runner of the Year.