Taylor Places 12th in Steeplechase at NCAA Championships - Montana State University Athletics (2024)

Noah Syverson

Men's Track and Field 6/7/2024 11:33:00 PM

Laurel native Levi Taylor becomes second Bobcat ever to be named outdoor All-American three times

EUGENE, Ore. -- One of the great performers in Montana State track and field history closed the book on a legendary outdoor career at Hayward Field on Friday, as Levi Taylor placed 12th in the final of the men's 3,000 meter steeplechase at the NCAA Championships in Eugene, Oregon.

The redshirt senior from Laurel, Montana, earns his third straight Second Team All-American honor, becoming just the second Bobcat ever (Duncan Hamilton) to earn All-American honors in three straight seasons.

"That's quite an incredible career," Weese said of Taylor's three All-American nods. "He's meant so much to our program over the years. Just his commitment to the team and just really wanting the team to move forward, he's always been a really big part of that. We're just thankful for all of his effort."

Taylor, who had booked his ticket to Friday's final with a gutsy kick on the backstretch in Wednesday's semifinal, didn't quite have enough in the tank to hang with a talent-heavy field.

"On a good day I can hang with those guys and kick with those guys, but it just wasn't my day," Taylor said.

Georgetown's Parker Stokes took the crown (8:24.58), with Virginia's Nathan Mountain in second (8:25.71) and Iowa State's Gabe Sieperda in third (8:25.92).

Through the first five laps, Taylor hung with the pack and held on to the lead group—but a tough sixth lap separated him from the field and couldn't keep the distance runner close enough to deliver his signature kick.

"We were feeling good," Weese said. "We were really excited about the way he finished that race [Wednesday] and we were hopeful that things would come together and he could use that in his race today. Obviously it ended up not being his best day, but as always Levi put forth a good effort."

Friday marked the fourth consecutive year Montana State pushed someone through to the men's steeplechase final—a remarkable feat.

Montana State sent the most athletes of any program in the country to Eugene in the men's steeplechase, and comes back to Bozeman with two Second Team All-Americans and an honorable mention All-American.

"It was something special to do it again this year," Weese said. "Duncan had been such a significant factor in our program that to have three people go to the NCAA Championships in the year after he finished up, that was pretty amazing and pretty special. We've got a couple of those guys that are returning and some young guys that want to run the steeple as well, so we're excited about what we can do moving forward."

Levi Taylor finished 12th, Rob McManus finished 13th, and Owen Smith finished 23rd.

The Bobcats have collected 11 All-American honors in the men's steeplechase in program history, with McManus and Taylor now the third and fourth Bobcats all-time on the men's side to earn multiple outdoor All-American honors overall (Shannon Butler, Duncan Hamilton).

Taylor advanced to the final in the steeplechase and placed ninth in 2022 in Eugene before placing 15th last season in Austin. His 12th place result on Friday marks three consecutive top-15 finishes while representing 'Steeple U.'

While out of track and field eligibility, Taylor will return for one last cross country season in the fall.

"It's a bright future for the steeplechase here," Taylor said. "I don't see why there can't be an NCAA champion in the years to come. Rob's right there to carry the torch and I hope there's more steeplers to come."

UP NEXT

Rising sophom*ore throwers Emma Brensdal and Sydney Brewster will head to Eugene next week for the 2024 USATF U20 National Championships from June 12-13.

In two weeks, Rob McManus will return to Hayward Field for the 2024 U.S. Olympic Trials, competing in the 3,000 meter steeplechase. McManus, who placed 13th to miss out on Friday's NCAA final, qualified for the Olympic Trials with an 8:29.54 run at the Bryan Clay Invitational on April 13, the 22nd-fastest time by an American this year.

McManus will in all likelihood be joined by his teammate, Taylor, who ran 8:30.43at the Bryan Clay Invitational, just barely missing the 8:30.00 standard. That time is currently the 24th-fastest mark by an American this year, and should get Taylor into the Olympic Trials.

The 2024 U.S. Olympic Trials will be held June 21-30 at Hayward Field in Eugene, Oregon.

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