Aristil grabs fifth in NCAA track finals

Posted Jun 11, 2010 by Bill Ward

Updated Jun 11, 2010 at 11:19 PM

University of South Florida sophomore David Aristil grabbed all-American honors Friday by placing fifth in the 400 hurdles finals of the NCAA Outdoor Track and Field Championships at historic Hayward Field in Eugene, Ore.

Aristil, a native of Boynton Beach, ran 51.05 while South Carolina’s Johnny Dutch took first place in 48.75. Aristil’s showing ties him for the fourth-best finish ever by a USF male athlete at the NCAA finals.

Former Bulls distance star Jon Dennis of Great Britain won back-to-back titles in the 5,000 under former Bulls coach Bob Braman in the 1990s, Boca Ciega High product Jimmy Baxter placed third in 2004 in the high jump and Scandinavian Jan-Erik Salo placed fifth in 2001 in the 3,000 steeplechase.

Aristil was also just the second-ever NCAA qualifier for USF in the 400 hurdles, joining Jamaican Olympian Kemel Thompson, who competed at the 1996 NCAA Championships. Thompson had owned the school record since 1996 at 50.50 before Aristil bettered it at the Big East Championships Championships with a 50.42.

Aristil, Thompson and 2008 Olympic womens 100 hurdles finalist Damu Cherry of Leto High are the only USF hurdlers to ever advance to the NCAA Championships.

Also at the NCAA meet this week, sophomore Jared Thomas took 19th in the men’s discus (168-2) Wednesday, while sophomore Nicole Rozario took 22nd in the 3,000 steeplechase (10:48.05) Thursday.

USF sophomore Casey Wagner will compete in the women’s javelin Saturday to complete the championships for USF athletes.