July 15, 2000

NOTRE DAME, Ind. - Notre Dame senior All-American Ryan Shay (Central Lake, Mich.) capped off a great season by placing 10th in the 10,000 meters Friday evening at the 2000 U.S. Track and Field Olympic Trials in Sacramento, Calif. Shay completed the race in 28:51.74, less than 50 seconds behind former UCLA All-American Mebrahtom Keflezighi (28:03.32), who finished first in the 34-man field.

Shay, who will return for his senior season with the Irish in 2000-2001, was the youngest of the top-10 finishers. Former University of Colorado standout Alan Culpepper (28:03.35) and former University of Arizona star Abdihakim Abdi (28:19.08) claimed the other two spots on the U.S. Olympic squad.

Shay had qualified for the trials with a time of 28:26.91, which he recorded at the Mt. SAC Relays in Walnut, Calif., in mid-April. He has earned All-America honors twice in the 10,000 meters at the NCAA outdoor meet, finishing seventh in both 1999 and 2000.