Track and Field: Bland Qualifies for Finals
May 25, 2007 10:31 PM | General
May 25, 2007
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| Czaikowski
Rob Irby photo |
Gainesville, Fla. – Freshman Keri Bland put in a phenomenal effort in the final leg of her 1,500 meter preliminary race to qualify for tomorrow’s final at the NCAA Outdoor Track and Field Regional Championship on Friday, May 25, in Gainesville, Fla.
Bland, a Fairview, W.Va., native, finished with the second fastest time of the day, clocking in at 4:22.03.
“I’m super proud of the effort Keri put in today,” coach Jeff Huntoon says. “She ran in a real competitive, tactical race, and the way she turned it on to pass three runners near the finish was just great.”
Senior Jessica Czaikowski also had a strong showing in both the 110 meter hurdles and the 100 meter dash. The Tottenham, Ontario, native finished ninth in the hurdles with a time of 13.50, just barely missing the cutoff for tomorrow’s final. She also just missed the finals in the dash, finishing 10th with a time of 11.68.
“Jess’ races were both real close,” Huntoon says. “She did what she needed to do to stay in the hunt for a spot at the NCAA Championship. Now, we just wait and see how the other regionals pan out.”
Sophomore Clara Grandt kept her hopes alive for a spot in the NCAA Championship, taking 14th in the 5,000 meter run with a time of 16:39.83.
“Clara’s race was very tough and very competitive, but she hung in there and now has a chance to move on to the next Championship,” Huntoon says.
Two other Mountaineers competed today. Senior Abbie Stechschulte finished 17th in the long jump, leaping 5.86 meters, while freshman Marie Louise Asselin narrowly missed the finals of the 1,500, finishing 13th with a time of 4:25.32.
Bland will be the only Mountaineer to compete in tomorrow’s final, running in the 1,500 at 6 p.m.
