North Central College's James Hoffman could almost touch the top of the mountain during the 2010 College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin outdoor men's track and field championship.

Hoffman, who finished second to Augustana's Greg Davis in the preliminaries of his signature event — the 400-meter hurdles — was leading in the finals as the race neared its conclusion.

"I ran really, really great," Hoffman said this week. "I was on a national qualifying pace. Right at the end of the race, at the 10th hurdle, I fell. I was in first place at the time, and (Davis), I believe, got a national time. I ended up getting last place because I fell."