|
WALLACE MOVES ON TO SEMIFINALS AT NCAA CHAMPIONSHIPS
6/10/2009
 FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — Sacramento State sophomore Lea Wallace advanced to the semifinals of the women's 800 after running a school record time of 2:05.55, Wednesday afternoon at the NCAA Div. I Outdoor Track and Field Championships hosted by Arkansas.
Wallace, who won the Big Sky Conference title in the 800 and placed third at the NCAA West Regional, finished fourth in the second of four heats of the event. The Napa, Calif., native just missed earning an automatic qualifier spot, finishing .06 seconds out of third place in the heat. The top three times in each heat advanced to the semifinals while the remainder of the field was comprised by the next six fastest times.
Wallace's time held up through the final two heats and she will head into Thursday's race with the 12th fastest time in the 18-athlete field. Friday's race will begin at 5:15 p.m. Pacific time.
"Lea showed what can happen when you compete," Sacramento State Director of Track and Field Kathleen Raske said. "She got bumped a little down the stretch but was able to overcome that. She was not afraid to go out and run her own race."
Her time also moved her to the top of the Sacramento State record list. The previous mark of 2:06.07 was set by Africa Eldridge in 1998. Wallace had been ranked second before the meet after clocking a time of 2:06.97 at the NCAA West Regional on May 30.
Sacramento State was also represented by Renisha Robinson in the 800. The sophomore ran out of lane 8 in the fourth heat but did not advance with a time of 2:12.34.
Along with Wallace and Robinson, Sacramento State will also have sophomore Ronald Brookins competing in the 110-hurdles. Brookins will begin his competition on Thursday at 3:50 p.m.
Access to complete results as well as live video can be found at the championship website which is linked at the top of the page.
|
