University of Southern Indiana senior Bastian Grau (Höchstadt, Germany) earned a pair of All-Midwest Region awards from the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches’ Association and secured a berth in the NCAA Division II Outdoor Track & Field Championships Tuesday.
The top five individuals in each event from each region earned All-Region distinction, in addition to each member of the region’s top three relay teams.
Grau earned the All-Region awards in the men’s 1,500 meters as well as the 5,000 meters. He ranked No. 1 in the region and No. 21, nationally, in the 1,500 meters with a time of three minutes, 48.28 seconds; while his time of 14:09.97 in the 5,000 meters ranked No. 13, nationally, and No. 5 in the Midwest Region.
In addition to the All-Region awards, Grau learned he would run the 5,000 meters at the NCAA II Outdoor Championships May 26 in Charlotte, North Carolina. The 2017 national champion in the indoor mile, Grau is earning his sixth straight trip to an NCAA II Championship event after qualifying for the NCAA II Cross Country Championships in 2016 and 2017, the NCAA II Indoor Championships in 2017 and 2018, and the NCAA II Outdoor Championships in 2017.
Grau, who posted his 5,000-meter qualifying time at the Raleigh Relays in Raleigh, North Carolina, in March, will be seeded 13th in this year’s event.
The three-time track & field All-American finished 14th in the mile at the NCAA II Indoor Championships in March and was eighth in the 1,500 meters at the NCAA II Outdoor Championships a year ago.
Grau will run in the finals of the 5,000 meters May 26 at 4:10 p.m. (CDT). Live results and video links can be accessed at GoUSIEagles.com.
