Ericson Set To Compete At USA Nationals
Wednesday, June 18 2008 - Derek Ericson
CHARLESTON, Ill. – Eastern Illinois freshman runner Derek Ericson will compete at this weekend’s USA Junior National Outdoor Track & Field championships at Jesse Owens Stadium in Columbus, Ohio.
Ericson will compete in the 3,000 meter steeplechase on Sunday, June 22. He is currently seeded 10th in the field with a personal best time of 9:21.33 posted at the Dr. Keeler Invite in May. Ericson ran the event four times during the 2008 outdoor season placing third at the Ohio Valley Conference championships.
A distance runner from Crystal Lake, Ill. (Central HS), Ericson was also a member of the EIU cross country team in the fall of 2007.
The USA Junior National Championships are open to US citizens between the ages of 14 and 20. An athlete can not turn 20 prior to Jan. 1, 2009 in order to be eligible. Ericson’s teammate Brad LaRocque also qualified for the championships in the 10,000 meters but withdrew due to a late season injury.