BRADENTON, Fla. — Cedarville University distance runner Daniel Michalski ran to a record-setting victory May 26 in the 3,000-meter steeplechase at the NCAA Division II Men’s Outdoor Track & Field Championship.

He crushed his own school record and set a new IMG Academy facility record with a winning time of 8:44.49.

Michalski, a Xenia High School graduate, is Cedarville’s first NCAA Division II men’s track national champion.

“I knew I wanted to position myself in the front, so I could be somewhat in control of the pacing,” Michalski explained. “If a move was made, I could be in an OK position to respond to it.

“So, I stayed in second or third most of the time. I decided at the second to last water barrier to take over and didn’t look back.”

He was an All-American in the steeple last year by finishing eighth. He was an indoor All-American this winter in both the mile and distance medley relay.

Michalski entered the final with the fourth-fastest time in the country this year at 8:52.01 and then bettered that by more than seven seconds.

He now owns the top two and nine of the top ten steeplechase performances in Cedarville University history.