Seidel Clocks Record In 3000M Steeplechase At Virginia Challenge

4/22/2017 11:48:00 PM | Women's Cross Country & Track

CHARLOTTESVILLE, Virginia – A school record in the 3000M steeplechase by junior Isabel Seidel highlighted the Wildcats weekend on the track at the Virginia Challenge.

Seidel lowered her personal best by a resounding 26 seconds on Saturday morning, turning in a 10:33.30.

"While it has been coming, Isabel executed her race perfectly and just missed winning it overall," said head coach 'AHavahla Haynes after the competition.

First-year student-athlete Aubrey Roberts kicked off her outdoor 5000M season with a dominant performance, winning her heat by more than 13 seconds with a time of 16:55.33.

Classmate Kelly O'Brien ran a 2:12.29 in the 800M event on Friday at Lannigan Field, lowering the school record by three seconds, and immediately bounced back on Saturday to post a 4:30.21 in the 1500M. Junior Sara Coffey clocked a 4:42.11 in the same event, with senior Jena Pianin. J immediately behind at 4:42.89

"It's encouraging to see Aubrey win her section, and she will have another shot to run in two weeks," said Haynes. "The meet as a whole was another weekend of progress and making the push towards qualifying for NCAA Preliminaries.

3000M Steeplechase:
Isabel Seidel – 10:33.30

800M:
Kelly O'Brien – 2:12.29

1500M:
Kelly O'Brien – 4:30.21
Sara Coffey – 4:42.11
Jena Pianin – 4:42.89

5000M:
Aubrey Roberts – 16:55.33

Northwestern's next opportunity to record NCAA qualifying times will come on May 5 at the Payton Jordan Invitational in Palo Alto, California. NCAA rankings are hosted by the Track & Field Results Reporting System and updated regularly HERE.