Wake Forest Athletics
Wake Forest University
NCAA Championships
Abrahamson Qualifies for NCAA 3000m Steeplechase Finals
6/8/2017 12:00:00 AM | Track and Field
By Wake Forest Athletic Communications (@WakeTrack)
EUGENE, Ore. - Wake Forest women's track and field senior Ellie Abrahamson finished fifth in her 3000m steeplechase national semifinal heat on Thursday to automatically qualify for the NCAA finals in the event.
The top five from each heat plus the next two fastest times advanced to the finals, which will be held Saturday, June 10 at 6:54 p.m. ET.
Abrahamson finished the race with a time of 10:00.02, a new personal best and a mark that replaces the school record time of 10:00.39 that she ran in the NCAA East Preliminary Round in Lexington, Kentucky on May 26.
Entering this outdoor season, the Wake Forest school record in the 3000m steeplechase sat at 10:34.72, set by Selina Skulic in 2004. Abrahamson smashed that record in her first steeplechase event since the 2015 outdoor season with a 10:09.59 performance at the Virginia Challenge. She lowered her time to 10:06.42 at the ACC Championships before recording 10:00.39 at the NCAA East Preliminary Round.
Joining Abrahamson in the finals will be Hope Schmelzle of Northern Illinois, Tori Gerlach of Penn State, Allie Ostrander of Boise State, Madeline Strandemo of Minnesota, Madison Boreman of Colorado, Elinor Purrier of New Hampshire, Grayson Murphy of Utah, Brianna Ilarda of Providence, Katy Kunc of Kentucky, Janelle Lincks of Colorado State and fellow ACC competitor Sarah Edwards of Virginia Tech.
Before Abrahamson's final event on Saturday, Robert Heppenstall will compete in the men's 800m final on Friday, June 9 at 9:47 p.m. ET. This will be Heppenstall's second appearance in the finals, as he placed eighth last season.
Players Mentioned
