Former N-A-U track star Lopez Lomong has advanced to the finals of the men’s 5,000 meter Olympic race in London.
Lomong turned in a time of 13:26.16 in his semifinal heat, finishing in fourth place.
The top 5 finishers in each heat were guaranteed a spot in the finals,
Five more spots went to the fastest runners who did not finish in their race’s top five.
Lomong’s time is 15 seconds slower than his personal best and 2012 world leading time, posted in April.
Another former Lumberjack, David McNeill, did not make it to the finals.
McNeill, competing for Australia, ran in the same heat as Lomong, coming in thirteenth.
McNeill led at the two kilometer mark, but slipped to the middle of the field by the end.
On Sunday, current NAU runner Diego Estrada, running for Mexico, came in twenty-first in the men’s 10,000 meter.
The men are scheduled to run the 5,000 meter final on Saturday morning at 11:30, Arizona time.
