POUGHKEEPSIE, N.Y. - Bard College sophomore Jack Keelan finished a close second in the 800 meter final at the Liberty League Championships on Saturday, qualifying for the NCAA Regional meet in the process.

Keelan was edged by Rochester junior Scott Sikorski by less than a second, but broke the Bard program record in the event by almost two seconeds. It was a record he already held.

"Jack came very close to winning that race," Bard coach Billy Poole-Harris said. "And he's really understanding now how to run the 800, which is very exciting for the weeks and years ahead."

Bard's 4x400 relay team - Keelan, CeDaniel Sumpter, Oliver Pawelek and Reed Campbell - placed eighth in front of several Bard fans.

"It was quite amazing to have so much support from the soccer team, the basketball team," Poole-Harris said. "We had a lot of people supporting track."

Keelan has qualified for the NCAA Div. III Regionals at Southern Connecticut State University next week. If he can complete the weekend with a time that is in the top 24 in the country, he will qualify for the NCAA Championships, to be held at Mount Union in Geneva, Ohio.

"Jack would need to drop less than a second off his best time to be in the conversation for Nationals," Poole-Harris said. "We're very excited!"