Jeremy Doherty, a freshman on the Illinois State mens track and field team as well as cross country, has qualified for the 2003 USA Track and Field Junior Nationals and will compete at the prestigious event this weekend in Palo, Alto, Calif.
A Ferguson, Mo., native, Doherty will compete in the 1500 meter semifinal run at 6 p.m. PST on Saturday, June 21. The meet is for athletes age 20 and under athletes from the United States and the top two finishers in each event will qualify for the world championships. Athletes who do not finish in the top two but qualify by time or mark will also advance to the world championships.
This is a big honor for Jeremy and the Redbird program, said Chris Bailey, distance coach for the Redbird track and field team. Anytime we can get someone in this caliber event, you know he or she will be running against the best competition in the country. It is just such an honor for Jeremy to be chosen for the event.
He has been running good all year and had a terrific cross country season that spilled over into indoor and outdoor, Bailey said. He has been training since the regional meet and is ready to take off this weekend.
The finals of the mens 1500 meters will be Sunday, June 22 at 4:30 p.m. PST. According to Bailey, with Dohertys work ethic, it will be no surprise if he advances to the finals.
I think the one thing the coaches, as well as his teammates, notice about Jeremy is his work ethic, Bailey said. He is tough, not afraid of competition and his attitude has payed off. He has been successful, the other team members see that, and see that success can be achieved. Jeremy has a big career ahead of him and this is just the kind of competition he needs to elevate that.
