DELAWARE, Ohio - Haverford College senior Christopher Stadler earned All-America honors by finishing second in the 10,000-meter run on the first day of the 2014 NCAA Division III Outdoor Track & Field Championships hosted by Ohio Wesleyan University.

Seeded seventh in the 10,000, Stadler battled the event's top qualifier -- John Crain of North Central College -- throughout the race. Crain looked to break away from the pack with nine laps left but Stadler remained right on his heels. Stadler moved out in front with three laps to go before Crain, who placed second in the event at last year's championship meet, surged down the stretch to claim the individual national title. Collecting the seventh All-America certificate of his career, Stadler finished in 31 minutes, 17.50 seconds while Crain led the field across the line in 31:11.83.

Stadler, who was named the Mideast Region outdoor track athlete of the year earlier this week, will participate in his final collegiate race on Saturday when he runs in the 5,000-meter run. The top qualifier in the event, Stadler was the national champion in the indoor 5,000 in 2013.

Earlier in the day, senior Avi Bregman and junior David Roza qualified for the final in the 3,000-meter steeplechase. Bregman, who owns the school and Centennial Conference record in the steeplechase, placed second (9:08.47) in the first of two qualifying heats. Roza also obtained one of the 14 spots in Saturday's championship race with a time of 9:09.84.

In the women's steeplechase preliminaries, senior Hope Rainey got off to a fast start in the first heat before withdrawing due to injury.

Also competing on Thursday were sophomore Charlie Marquardt and junior Gibby Graves. Marquardt placed 16th (3:56.37) in the 1,500-meter run while Graves finished 15th in the long jump with a distance of 6.87 meters (22 feet, 6.50 inches).

Championship action resumes at Selby Stadium on Friday at 1 p.m.