Gophers runner Hassan Mead, a sophomore from Minneapolis South, won his heat in the 5,000-meter run early Thursday morning at the NCAA track and field championships in Fayetteville, Ark.

Mead’s time was 14 minutes, and .79 seconds. In the other heat, junior David McNeill of Nothern Arizona won in 13:57.73. That was a faster heat; six runners broke 14 minutes, including Oregon senior Galen Rupp, the NCAA cross-country champion last fall.

The 5,000 final will be held at 8:40 p.m. Friday. It is the last event of that night. Rain on Wednesday pushed some events into early Thursday morning.

The Gophers also had another runner in the 5,000, but senior Chris Rombough was 11th in his heat in 14:09.79 and did not advance.

Among other U athletes who did — and there are six men and six women at nationals — were senior Heather Dorniden in the 800, junior Alica Rue in the pole vault and Aaron Studt in the shot put.

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