By Anthony Bosco
College Point native Tommy Nohilly took one step closer to realizing his Olympic dream Monday night, finishing second in Heat 1 of the 3,000-meter steeplechase at the Olympic Trials in Sacramento, Calif.
Nohilly, 34, and a graduate of Monsignor McClancy High School and the University of Florida, qualified for the final heat to be held Thursday night. The top three finishers in the final heat will represent the United States in Sydney in the 2000 Summer Olympics.
This position is nothing new for Nohilly, who finished fourth at the trials in 1992 and 1996, both times less than a second behind the third-place finisher.
On Monday night, Nohilly was one second behind Heat 1 winner Mark Croghan, who broke the tape in 8:26.75. Nohilly was second in 8:27.75, just ahead of Tim Broe and Darin Shearer. The top four finishers of Heat 1 advanced to the finals.
Nohilly will be joined by Croghan, Broe, Shearer, Heat 2 winner Pascal Dobert, Billy Herman, Clint Wells, Chuck Sloan, Greg Jimmerson, Robert Gary, Anthony Famiglietti, Thomas Chorny, Tony Cosey and Dave Cullum in the finals.
Nohilly
