Men's Track and Field | June 8, 2016

EUGENE, Oregon - La Salle junior Chris Sanders finished third in his heat, breaking his own school record with a time of 1:46.52, and has advanced to the NCAA Finals in the 800m on Wednesday night at historic Hayward Field. He is now a First Team All-American by finishing in the top eight in the nation.

Sanders had the sixth fastest time overall and received the second "at-large" bid after finishing third in his heat. He edged UTEP's Jonah Koech by .01 for the final bid. He has now broken the school record in the 800m four times this spring. 

"We are very excited for Chris making it to the final," head coach Tom Peterson said. "It is the culmination of all his hard work this year. Chris races with guts every time he steps on the line. The final on Friday will be no different."

The Upper Merion High School graduate was in second place for most of the first lap before falling back into fourth midway through the second lap. He then kicked down the stretch to regain third place and it proved to be enough to pass Koech for the final spot.

Now the ninth Explorer to earn All-America honors, Sanders has a chance to join some of the all-time greatest La Salle athletes as a national champion or national runner-up in men's track and field. John Uelses won the pole vault in 1965 and Al Cantello was runner-up in the javelin in 1955. 

Friday's final 800m will run at 9:47 PM on ESPN.