EUGENE, Ore. – After two trips to Eugene without an appearance in the 1500-meter final, senior All-American David Timlin finally punched his ticket for the NCAA final following a strong qualifying performance in semifinals at Day One of the 2017 NCAA Outdoor Championships at Hayward Field on Wednesday.
 
Timlin, a Chicago native, had qualified for the national meet in the 1500 in both 2015 and 2016, but finished 14th both times despite breaking his own school record each trip. In addition to being the first Sycamore male to ever qualify for the national meet in the 1500, Timlin is now the first to make an NCAA final in the event.
 
"He's been here several times, so it's really great for him to make the final," said ISU head coach Angela Martin. "You never know what you're going to get when you watch him, but he has a lot of confidence in his finish, so that was great for him."
 
"It's long overdue, but nonetheless it's a huge relief," Timlin said. "Everyone else who made that final there is legit."
 
Timlin isn't lying, as the 1500 field in Eugene today was an impressive one – including three runners who have broken the 3:40 barrier this season. The first heat featured two of those three, and was a fast heat indeed with nine of the top-10 overall times.
 
Heat Two, however, got out slow, meaning that the two time qualifier spots likely weren't up for grabs. After coming through 400 at 59.6 and 800 at 2:03.58, Timlin had his signature strategy ready to go.
 
"Once that happened I knew: conserve energy, dodge traffic and get ready for a kick," Timlin said.
 
And, as Missouri Valley opponents have known for years, Timlin does that better than most. Sitting near the back of the pack at the bell lap, Timlin turned on the jets for a 54.89 final lap – not only the fastest final lap in the heat, but the fastest overall lap among all competitors in both heats – and burst his way through to an automatic qualifying spot in fourth at 3:44.83.
 
"I'm convinced that the last lap, no matter what position I'm in – I can be 50 meters back, 100 meters back – I'm gonna make something happen and reach my goals one way or another," Timlin said.
 
As for the once-elusive NCAA final? If the pace is right yet again, anything goes.
 
"It depends on how the race goes," Martin said. "Timlin is definitely a sit-and-kick style racer, and if it goes out in an even pace, you can't ever count him out."
 
Fellow senior Marcus Neely had a career day in the men's 110-meter hurdles semifinals, but so too did nearly the entire national field he was up against. Neely finished fourth in his heat at a career-best 13.60 seconds (+2.5 wind), but missed out on the final in 10th overall after an unbelievably fast prelim round. Including Neely, nine of the top-10 finishers all set career bests – the lone exception being national leader Chad Zallow of Youngstown State, who was the first competitor out of the final in ninth at 13.58.
 
For comparison, last season All-American Sycamore Adarius Washington took an automatic qualifier spot in second in his heat at 13.64 and finished third overall in the final at 13.68.
 
"We kept saying all along to keep doing what I'm doing and I'll make it, but I PR'd and I still didn't make it," Neely said. "Everybody ran fast. I'm happy about the experience. I got to be here, I got to enjoy it. I ran my heart out and ran my best, so at least when I look back on this I can say I PR'd and I ran with the best."
 
"We thought if he runs 13.60, 13.66 like he's been running the last few weeks that he would make the final, but everybody brought their A-game today," Martin added.
 
Today unfortunately wraps up Neely's career with the Sycamores, but he leaves as one of the best hurdlers on an illustrious list of great Sycamores that have been part of Hurdle U. At 13.60, he ends his career only behind such greats as Olympian Greggmar Swift (13.35), NCAA champion Aubrey Herring (13.36), Washington (13.40) and NCAA champion Chris Lancaster (13.45).
 
"He came in and he bought into the program," Martin said. "He bought into working hard, he bought into lifting hard and wanting to be part of the legacy Coach McNichols had in the hurdles. When Coach passed, Marcus continued that and brought that to the team every day."
 
"He exemplifies everything Indiana State is: take a hard worker and see what you can do," Martin added.
 
Timlin will run in the 1500-meter final on Friday at 8:42 p.m. ET, but first the Sycamore women will take the stage Thursday. Taylor Austin will lead things off in the 3,000-meter steeplechase semifinals at 8:02, followed by All-American Alethia Marrero in the 800-meter semifinals at 9:14.
 
For the latest information on the Sycamore Track and Field team, make sure to check out GoSycamores.com. You can also find the team on social media including Facebook and Twitter.