Matthew Forrester punches his ticket to Eugene, Ore. in the men's 5,000 meters on Friday night at the NCAA East First Round.

This marks the third consecutive season the Bulldogs will be competing out west on the national stage in the 5K.

Forrester battled adversity through the race after losing his shoe in the final 2,000 meters of the race. The graduate student powered through finishing in seventh to secure a spot in the finals. Forrester was the last to qualify after missing out on an automatic bid and didn't earn an automatic bid, posting the last of the next fastest times at 14:00.14.

He joins William Zegarski as the two Bulldogs to advance to the NCAA Outdoor Track and Field Championships. Zegarski placed 11th in the men's 10,000 meters at 29:10.03 late Wednesday night to earn a spot in the finals in Eugene.

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The Bulldog duo will have a week off before heading to Eugene, Oregon to compete at the NCAA Outdoor Track and Field Championships beginning on Wednesday, June 11.