SPOKANE, Wash. -- Troy Fraley will represent the Gonzaga men's track program at the USATF Indoor Championships in the 3,000 meters Friday.

Fraley becomes the first-ever Zag to run in the prestigious event. He will run on the same track that will host next week's World Championships inside the Oregon Convention Center in Portland. As the only collegian in the 16-runner 3,000-meter field, Fraley will race against incredible professional competition.

"It's amazing to think of a Zag jersey in the USA's," Director of GU Track and Cross Country Pat Tyson said. "Wow! I'm so excited for the young man from Kalispell, Mont. This is new unchartered territory for Gonzaga distance running. We want Troy to use this race to rub elbows with literally the best and take the energy to continue to test the limits of his ability. It should be fun and a race like this will only give him confidence!"

Fraley needed an 8:00.00 3,000-meter time to qualify. He cracked that mark running a school-record 7:57.16 at the Husky Classic in Seattle on Feb. 13. He improved on his own personal record of 7:59.00 ran earlier this season on Jan. 29.

"It feels unreal to be a part of this," Fraley said. "When I registered for this race I knew that there was only a small chance that I would make it, so this is definitely a pleasant surprise! I'm very excited to represent GU in an event like this, but also very humbled by this opportunity."

Friday's elite field includes 10-time NCAA Division I All-American and 2015 USATF Outdoor 5,000-meter champion Ryan Hill, 3,000-meter steeplechase American record holder Evan Jager, two-time USA Outdoor 1,500m champion Lopez Lomong, seven-time USATF Outdoor 10,000-meter champion and 2012 Olympic 10,000-meter silver medalist Galen Rupp, and three-time USATF Indoor 3,000-meter champion and 2014 World Indoor 3,000-meter runner-up Bernard Lagat to name just a few of the runners.

Among the 16 entries for Friday's race are four Olympians, four members of last summer's World Outdoor team, runners with seven of the top-10 times in U.S. history, three individuals who hold a combined 10 American records (indoors and outdoors) and the 2015 NCAA champion.

The top-two times from the 3,000-meter race will represent the United States at the 2016 World Indoor Championships, which are slated for March 17-20 at the Oregon Convention Center. The indoor track stadium at the OCC features a new, 200-meter IAAF-certified track and is configured to accommodate more than 7,000 spectators.

The 3,000-meter final is scheduled for 5:50 p.m. Friday. Live coverage will be available on USATF.tv with a tape-delayed broadcast on NBC Sports Network at 11:30 p.m.

3,000-meter Entries