After having to sit out nearly the entire outdoor track and field season with a hip and ankle injury, junior All-American Geoff Lambert still managed to advance to the NCAA Division III Outdoor Track and Field Championships. But his season came to an end Friday night after finishing ninth in the final heat of the men's 800-meter run.
Lambert ran in the last of two heats, crossing the finish line in 1:54.31. Only the two heat winners and the next five fastest times advanced to Saturday's championship race. Ohio Northern's Jimmy O'Brien, who edged Lambert at the finish line in the finals of the 800 meters at the indoor championships just a few months ago, posted a new track record with a time of 1:50.74 to advance as the favorite to win the outdoor title Saturday afternoon.