BRADEN SHAW Bozeman Daily Chronicle

The sting of the men’s 3,000-meter steeplechase semifinals at the 2024 NCAA Division I Outdoor Track and Field Championships has stayed with Rob McManus.

He entered the race in Eugene, Oregon, with the seventh-fastest time, but finished seventh in his heat and 13th overall in 8 minutes, 33.43 seconds — missing the final by one spot .

MSU head coach Lyle Weese saw the difference between McManus’ appearances at the 2023 and 2024 NCAA Outdoor meets: the first a product of a breakout season and the second adding the weight of expectations.

He also noticed how McManus didn’t dwell on the race and wanted to use it as motivation. It hurt missing the final, McManus said, but it made him realize he belonged with the NCAA’s best.

McManus has relied on that

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