McAdams Heading to Beijing

McAdams Heading to BeijingMcAdams Heading to Beijing

EUGENE -- Former BYU All-American Josh McAdams finished third in the 3,000-meter steeplechase at the U.S. Olympic Trials on Saturday, and will represent the United States at the 2008 Olympic Summer Games in Beijing, China.

McAdams, the 2006 NCAA National Champion, finished third behind Colorado's William Nelson and Anthony Famiglietti. McAdams' time of 8:21.99 is the 23rd fastest time in the world this season, and was just over .30 seconds off his personal best, which was set back on June 10, 2007 in Eugene.

McAdams is the second BYU track athlete to earn a trip to the Olympics. Earlier this week, former NCAA National Champion Niklas Arrhenius was named to the Swedish Olympic team and will compete in the discus.

Joshua McAdams

Broadview Heights, OH

At BYU

SENIOR - (2006): Placed second in the 800m with a time of 1:52.68 at the Cougar Indoor Meet ... finished 10th in the mile (4:06.62) at the UW Indoor Invitational ... placed fifth in the mile at the New Balance Indoor Invitational with a time of 4:04.16 ... anchored the MWC Championship distance medley relay team with a time of 10:00.73 ... anchored the second-place distance medley relay team at the NCAA Indoor Championships with a time of 9:37.92 ... Won first place in the 3000-meter steeplechase (8:38.47) at the Stanford Invitational ... took second in the mile (4;03.36) at the UCLA invite ... came in third in the section A 3000-meter steeplechase (8:45.52) at the Oregon invitational ... placed first in the mile (4:05.25) at the Robison Invitational ... won the MWC title in the 300-meter steeplechase (9:07.45) and took second in the 1500 meters (3:47.29) at the Mountain West Conference Championship meet ... came in first in the 3000 meter steeple (8:50.12) at the NCAA West Regional Meet ... won the national title for the 3000-meter steeplechase with a time of 8:34.10 at the NCAA National Championship meet ... named Scholar Athlete by the Student Athlete Academic Center.

JUNIOR - (2005): Took second in the mile at the BYU Cougar Indoor Invitational (4:13.72) ... placed fifth in the mile at the MWC Indoor Championships with a time of 4:18.14 ... team took seventh in the men's distance medley at the NCAA Indoor Championships (9:37.09) to obtain All-American status ... won the 3000m Steeplechase at the Stanford Invitational(8:40.48) ... ran the mile at the UCLA Invitational with a time of 4:05.29 ... won the 3000m Steeplechase at the MWC Outdoor Championships (9:02.93) ... holds the MWC 3000m steeplechase record ... took second in the 3000m Steeplechase at the NCAA Regional with a time of 8:41.56 ... received All-American status in the 3000m Steeplechase at the NCAA Outdoor Championships after finishing ninth (8:34.89) ... finished eighth at USA outdoor nationals with an 8:37 ... second fastest steepler in BYU history behind Henry Marsh ... named Academic All-MWC and MWC Outdoor Track and Field Athlete of the Week.

SOPHOMORE - (2004): First place in the mile (4:15.35) at Montana State ... placed seventh at the MWC Indoor Championships in the mile with a time of 4:18.08 ... won the 1500m at the BYU Cougar Invite ... captured first in the 3000m steeplechase (8:51.13) ... finished third in the 1500m with a time of 3:50.62 at the Robison Invitational ... took 17th in the steeplechase at the Cardinal Invitational with a regional qualifying time of 8:45.26 ... captured second in the 3000m steeplechase and 10th in the 1500m at the MWC Outdoor Championships ... took fourth in the steeplechase at Regionals (8:45.26) ... ran the steeplechase in 9:03.22 at the Outdoor National Championships ... named Academic All-MWC.

Before BYU

Earned four varsity letters in both cross country and track at Brecksville-Broadview Heights ... was four year MVP in cross country and two-time MVP for track ... served as team captain for three years in cross country ... holds school's record in the 5K and in the 1600m ... winner of the Pioneer Conference four years in a row ... was three-time cross country regional champion ... four-time state placer in cross country and track ... placed three times at state in wrestling.

Personal

Born March 1980 in Atlanta, Ga. ... parents are Russ and Cindy McAdams ... served in the Thailand Bangkok Mission for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints ... majoring in microbiology ... father placed fourth and fifth for the nation in wrestling for BYU in 1967 and 1968, respectively at 137 pounds ... Uncle Mike also wrestled for BYU from 1967-70 and was an All-American ... sister, Christy, scored the first 10.00 for BYU Gymnastics ... married to Whitney.

Other College

Transferred from Belmont University with a 3.6 GPA.