DES MOINES, IOWA – The outdoor track season came to a close for Norfolk State's Keith Nkrumah as the junior was unable to advance out of his semifinal heat of the 110 meter hurdles on Thursday night at the NCAA Outdoor Track and Field Championships at Drake Stadium.

Running in the first of three semifinal races, Nkrumah finished eighth in his heat and 24th overall among the field who qualified for nationals. He clocked a time of 14.17 seconds.

Nkrumah was making his first appearance at an NCAA national championship track meet. He should be bestowed with honorable mention All-America honors when they are released by the United States Track and Field and Cross Country Coaches Association on Monday. Any athlete who competes at least one round at a national championship meet receives no worse than honorable mention recognition.

Nkrumah is the fifth Spartan track athlete to qualify for the outdoor nationals and earn honorable mention All-America honors in the last two years. Former Spartan men Sean Holston (400 meters), Aramis Massenburg (110 hurdles) and Darris Shelton (long jump) and current women's track athlete Champagne Bell all qualified last year.

Despite the disappointing finish, the 2011-12 season was a successful one for Nkrumah. He broke the school record in the 60 meter hurdles and ran a leg on the MEAC gold medal-winning 4x400 relay team during indoor season. He was MEAC outdoor champion in both the 110 and 400 meter hurdle events, earning Co-Most Outstanding Runner honors at the meet. Nkrumah helped the Spartans complete their seventh straight sweep of the conference indoor and outdoor track titles, and will again play a prominent role for the Spartans in 2012-13.