DES MOINES, Iowa - VMI alumnus Donnie Cowart '09 posted a ninth-place finish in the 3,000-meter steeplechase at the USATF Championships, held in Des Moines, Iowa Sunday afternoon.

Cowart's ninth-place finish came in a personal-best time, as he completed the distance in 8:41.02. He was competing at the event for the second straight year, but was making his first career appearance in the finals, as he failed to advance out of the preliminaries last season. The field Cowart faced Sunday included Anthony Famiglietti, a two-time Olympian in the event, whom Cowart bested by some six seconds. The former VMI standout was able to make the finals thanks to a strong effort Friday, when he earned the 10th qualifying position with an 8:48.10 clocking.

Cowart had a storied career at the Institute, capped by his 8:44.66 time in the steeplechase at the 2009 NCAA Championships, as well as his appearance at the 2009 USATF Outdoor Championships, where he finished 21st overall. He was the Most Outstanding Track Performer at the 2009 Big South Indoor Championships, and holds the VMI record in the indoor mile, as well as four of the top five steeplechase marks in Institute history.