COLLEGE STATION, Texas -- The Thunderbird men's track and field team had a successful opening day at the 2018 NCAA Indoor National Championships in College Station, Texas on Friday.

Senior Mike Tate, who is competing his final indoor season for the Thunderbirds, and claimed First Team All-American status by finishing fourth in the men's 5,000-meter on the first of two days the Thunderbirds will compete in Texas.

Tate ran the 5K in 14:15.67, which put him fourth in the field. Justyn Knight from Syracuse claimed the National Championship with a time of 14:14.47. Alabama's Vincent Kiprop finished second with a time of 14:15.01, and Oklahoma State's Hassan Abdi took third with a 14:15.38.

Andy Trouard from Northern Arizona rounded out the top-five at the event.

This was Southern Utah's first indoor All-American honor since Cam Levins earned the designation in 2012.  

Tate stayed at the front of the race or right in the lead pack for nearly the entirety of the race.  

He will race again for the Thunderbirds tomorrow, where he'll compete in the men's 3,000-meter that's set to begin at 5:10 p.m. MT.

Kasey Knevelbaard automatically qualified for the final in the men's one mile with a third place finish in his heat.

Knevelbaard ran a 4:04.39, which got him into the finals along with nine other student-athletes. The finals for the mile will take place on Saturday at 3:10 p.m. MT.

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Head to suutbirds.com for all Thunderbird athletics news.