Rock Island, Ill. - Sophomore Gabe Nichols won the 1500-meter run and fellow sophomore Indy Lyness finished 11th at the Augustana Midwest Twilight Qualifier on Wednesday night.  The pair each tallied personal bests with the performance, Nichols in a time of 3:46.18 and Lyness with a mark of 3:50.17. 

Lyness was the first to race on Wednesday evening.  He quickly settled into the middle of the second heat before falling all the way back to 10th position. But with 700 meters to go, the underclassman made his move, climbing along the outside.  In a 400-meter stretch, he went from 10th all the way to second, which is where he would hold off the rest of the heat and finish.  His time not only bested his previous personal record, but also stands as the fourth-fastest time in school history. 

Nichols was next.  Seeded ninth entering Wednesday night's fastest heat in the 1500, he also fell into the middle of the pack.  He maintained the fifth position through the opening lap before methodically moving up.  With 700 meters remaining, he was third.  With 300 meters to go, he had moved up to second before a gutsy final 100 meters pushed him to the win and a personal record 3:46.18.  That mark crushed his own school record and season best by nearly two-and-a-half seconds, and launched him into 10th on the Division III performance list.  With selections to the NCAA National Championships to take place on Friday, that time is likely to stand as a qualifying mark.