Futsum Mebrahtu (Pheonix, Ariz., North ) put himself in contention for the win at the New Balance Collegiate Invitational championship 5,000-meters Friday and walked away with a personal best and a solid NCAA provisional qualifying mark of 14:25. Mebrahtu's mark is the third-fastest time by a Royal behind NCAA national champions Daniel Kanyaruhuru and Michael Crouch (Yucca Valley, Calif., Yucca Valley ).

Mebrahtu hit consistent splits at the back of the pack before moving as high as third in the late stages of the race. Mebrahtu 's time would rank him the second fastest in Division II for the distance on last week's national performance list.  Abeline Christian's Angus Sang posted a 14:16 for second.

Alexander Schilling (Dresden, Germany, Sportgymnasium Dresden) was also in action today, posting a time of 14:59 in the collegiate 5k. Simon Stuetzel (Meinborn, Germany) and Nelson Mwangi (Kenya, Nairobi School) both race the mile on Saturday with hopes of qualifying for NCAAs, while.

Back in the bsuth, Queens was forced to cancel its meet at Virginia Military Institute on Friday due dangerous road conditions with sleet and snow. The Royals will pick up two more meets at next Friday's UNC Open and the Mountaineer Open at Appalachian State.

                         

1	Waggoner, Bo	Duke	14:16.4
2	Sang, Amos	Abilene	14:18.1
3	Kauffmann, Tommy	Xavier (Ohio)	14:23.9
4	Brodeur, Andrew	Duke	14:24.1
5	Lewis, Daniel	Villanova	14:24.2
6	Kostelnik, James	Duke	14:25.4
7	Mebrahtu, Futsum	Queens Univ.	14:26.0
8	Long, Brian	Villanova	14:28.4
9	Bodary, Chris	Tennessee	14:30.0
10	Chautin, Richard	Louisiana State	14:39.8
11	Kane, Matthew	Villanova	14:43.1
12	Osborne, James	Duke	14:44.8
13	Kemboi, Victor	America Inter	14:45.7
14	Maher, Zak	NY University	14:46.0
15	Fassino, Steve	Tennessee	14:49.0
16	Hodges, James	T A&M	14:51.5
17	Rapp, Chris	Tennessee	14:58.2
18	DelBene, Colby	Abilene	15:01.0
19	Florek, Michael	Louisiana State	15:14.6