David Westcott finished 10th in the 3,000-meter steeplechase after posting a time of 9:26 on Saturday. Photos courtesy of Erin Madden, Baldwin Wallace University.

David Westcott wrapped up his track and field career at The College of Wooster on Saturday after finishing 10th in the 3,000-meter steeplechase finals at the NCAA Division III Outdoor Track & Field Championships held at Geneva, Ohio.

Westcott ran a 9:26 as he led the final five racers down the stretch. He held off the 11th and 12th place runners who each finished within a second of Westcott.

He was two spots shy of earning All-American status.

The start was a bumpy one for Westcott as he got tripped up about 800 meters into the race which contributed to a slower time than what he posted on Thursday. He entered the finals after finishing third in his heat and sixth overall with a time of 9:14.

"He worked hard to try and get back into the top eight, but he just ran out of time," head coach Dennis Rice said. "That really just disrupted the whole race."

The ninth-place runner ahead of Westcott, Sam Brunnette of Plymouth State, finished in 9:18.54 and the winner of the meet, Benjamin Schott of Messiah, posted a winning time of 8:58.89.

Westcott leaves Wooster as the school's record holder in the event at 9:02.96. With his career at Wooster over, he will carry one year of eligibility to race cross country at Temple University in the fall. 

Rice reminisced at how far Westcott had come in his years at Wooster and noted him as one of his top athletes who made significant strides in the program.

"He's had an amazing transition from a high school runner to a collegiate runner," Rice said. "To go from high school really underdeveloped to making a strong commitment and competing at the NCAA Championships, he's worked so hard to achieve that success. We're really proud of his accomplishments not just athletically, but what he brought to the program."