FAYETTE, Mo. - Former Central Methodist University track star Patrick Stroupe recorded a personal-best time and finished third in the men's 20,000-meter race walk Saturday at the 2008 U.S. Olympic Team Trials in Eugene, Ore.

Stroupe crossed the line in 1 hour, 29 minutes, 17 seconds, more than a minute faster than his previous best in the event. Kevin Eastler won the event in 1:27:08, followed by Matthew Boyles in 1:28:20.

Although the top three finishers in each event at the Trials qualify for the U.S. Olympic Team, Eastler will be the only representative for the U.S. at the 2008 Olympics in Beijing. Neither Boyles nor Stroupe has achieved the Olympic "A" qualifying standard of 1:23:00 to compete in Beijing.

According to the USA Track & Field Web site, Stroupe said he had hoped to go faster, but had not expected to achieve the Olympic qualifying standard.

Stroupe, a native of Armstrong, Mo., graduated from Central Methodist University in 2007 with a bachelor's degree in communication studies and a minor in environmental science. He was a three-time NAIA National Champion in the men's 5,000-meter race walk. During his four years as a student and member of the CMU Track & Field Team, Stroupe was recognized as an NAIA All-American, NAIA Scholar All-American and NAIA Region 5 Scholar Athlete.

For more information about the 2008 U.S. Olympic Team Trials, visit www.usatf.org.

Founded in 1854, Central Methodist is the only United Methodist Church-related university in Missouri, and welcomes qualified men and women of all faiths and from diverse backgrounds. Its wooded, historic campus hosts a faculty of teachers, mentors, and scholars dedicated to providing extraordinary attention to the individual learner. With offerings ranging from high-school dual credit to graduate studies and a total enrollment of more than 3,000, its liberal arts and pre-professional programs are centered on a character core that has twice brought Central Methodist national recognition for its leadership in character education.  In recent years the University has attracted significant challenge grants from the national Kresge and Mabee Foundations to help build a $15 million Student and Community Center on the academic quadrangle and to fund $5 million in major upgrades to its athletic facilities.