CHARLOTTE, N.C.--Bellarmine University's Nate Dotterweich competed in the NCAA Div. II National Outdoor Track and Field Championships tonight, running the 3,000 meter steeplechase in a time of 9:30.40 during the preliminaries. The time fell short of qualifying for Saturday's final.

Dotterweich (Monticello, Iowa, Monticello) earned an automatic bid to the national championships by running a school record time of 9:01.48 less than two weeks ago at a University of Louisville meet. He is the first men's track and field athlete at Bellarmine to earn an automatic bid in more than 25 years.

During this evening's championship meet, there were two preliminary heats and the top four finishers from each heat and the next four fastest times moved on to the finals. 

Bellarmine Director of Track and Cross Country Jim Vargo said that Dotterweich ran in the second of the two heats. "(Nate) actually led for a couple of laps," he said, "because the times in the first heat were so fast, we knew Nate would have to finish in the top four to advance, so we wanted to set an aggresive pace.  Unfortunately, he just couldn't maintain that."

Vargo said that after the race Dotterweich reported that he was just flat.  "That's nothing to hang your head about," Vargo said.  "To be the first (Bellarmine) men's track runner to get an automatic bid in more than 25 years and the fact that he's a sophomore speak volumes about future possibilities."

For complete results, fans can log on to the NCAA's website.