GULF SHORES, Ala. - The Indiana University East men's track and field season came to a close on the second day of the 2019 NAIA Outdoor National Championships at Mickey Miller Blackwell Stadium on May 24.

Will Mundy, Jamal Stephens, Alex Ferguson and Matthew Paterson competed in the trials of the 1,600-meter relay as the first IU East group to qualify for the national meet. Dustin Reynolds was the alternate.

KEY MOMENT

The relay squad lowered its seed time and finished 11th overall with a school record time of 3:14.83.

The Red Wolves were third in the second of four heats as 25 schools were entered in the event. The previous record was 3:15.03 set earlier this month.

The top eight advanced to the finals on May 25.

QUOTABLE

"Outdoor nationals was a great experience for everyone that was down here. Three weeks ago, we were struggling to qualify and tonight we were 0.64 seconds away from making the finals and securing first team All American status. I think this experience has lit a fire under these guys and they now believe that they can run with the best of the best and hold their own. I believe that we will come back next year with a stronger team with a chip on their shoulders." - IU East coach Gus Schmader.

Indiana University East leads the region as the premier four-year and master's public institution in eastern Indiana and western Ohio. With enrollment of nearly 3,500 students, IU East is both a traditional campus that excels in innovative learning options and a virtual campus with select online degree completion programs. The university's customized bachelor's and master's programs – a portfolio of over 50 degree program options – anticipate the growing needs of citizens in the region, state and nation. For more information, please visit www.iue.edu.