INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. – He came back for a reason... and that reason is here.

Saint Joseph's men's track and field graduate student Zach Michon has qualified for the 2021 NCAA East Regional Preliminary Rounds in the 5000m, it was announced through the release of the official declaration list on Thursday. Hosted by the University of North Florida at Hodges Stadium in Jacksonville, Florida from May 26 through May 29, the meet will feature the top 48 declared student-athletes in each individual event and the top 24 relay teams east of the Mississippi River.

The top 12 finishers in each event from the regional competition will advance to the 2021 NCAA Outdoor Track and Field Championships, slated for June 9 through June 12 at the University of Oregon's historic Hayward Field in Eugene, Ore.

"I'm excited and happy for this opportunity," said Michon once he saw his name on the declared list. "I'm definitely going to try my best to put myself in a position to move on to the next level, because you don't lose anything from trying. I think making it out to Eugene would be a great way to finish off my career. The theme of this year in these 5000m races has been people just leaving it all out there. A lot of championship-level races have become very honest, with honest paces. Not having a trial before it just increases the chances of it being an honest race."

Michon's school-record time of 13:53.05 from the Penn Challenge back on March 27 ranks 37th on the declared list entering next Friday evening's quarterfinals, which are set for 8:30 p.m. The field of 48 will race in two sections of 24. The top five finishers from each heat, plus the next two overall racers with the best times, will book their tickets to Oregon.

Fans can follow Michon's progress via the UNF Athletics official website, while live results will be made available through NCAA.com.

---

Michon is riding the momentum of a win in his last 5000m outing as the standout cruised to the gold medal as the backend of a 1500m/5000m double at the 2021 Atlantic 10 Outdoor Track and Field Championships on May 2.

No stranger to this level of competition, Michon returns to Hodges Stadium after making his debut there as a 1500m qualifier at the 2019 NCAA East Regional Preliminary Rounds. Then a junior, the 45th-seeded Michon placed 29th in 3:54.98. 

"I remember going there my junior year," recalled Michon. "At that time, Coach Glavin had said, 'The first time you go is for the experience. The second time you go, your goals are a little bigger.'"

Michon will look to leave his mark alongside 14 former Hawks who qualified as individuals for the NCAA Outdoor Track and Field Championships in the program's 100-year history. Kevin McDonnell was the most recent in 2013 (10,000m), alongside Steve Ave (1986, 1500m), Jim Norris (1985, 1500m), Lou Kelly (1980 and 1981, 400y Int. Hurdles), Ed Lennex (1973, 1974, and 1976, Triple Jump), Fred Maglione (1970, High Jump), John Lieb (1961, 400y Dash), Jim Tozar (1961, 880y Run), and Kevin Quinn (1961, Mile Run), Frank McLaughlin (1956, 880y Run), and Joe McLaughlin (1952, Shot Put).  

The 2021 NCAA West Regional Preliminary Rounds will be held at the same time as the 2021 NCAA East Regional Preliminary Rounds, which will take place in Bryan-College Station, Texas.