MARION, Ind. – Hillary Holt and Sora Klopfenstein each won their respective preliminary heat, highlighting College of Idaho competitors on Day 1 of the NAIA Outdoor Track and Field Championships at Indiana Wesleyan University.
Holt had no trouble winning the first of two 1,500-meter heats, as the defending champion recorded the fastest time of the day (4:38.52) despite rainy and windy conditions. Klopfenstein dominated the second of two prelims in the 3,000-meter steeplechase, with her time of 11:06.88 nearly eight seconds faster than her next closest competitor. Both runners will move on to Saturday’s final.
Joining them in Saturday’s medal round is Jasmine Sibert, who was the last of nine qualifiers in the 400-meter hurdles, clocking a time of 1:04.01.
The Lady Yotes 4x100-meter relay team of Lexis Lange, Nichole DeGrange, Brittany Beame, and Sibert failed to qualify for the finals – with their time of 48.36 the fourth-fastest time in their heat and the 12th-best time of the 21 qualifiers. Sarah Johnson also failed to qualify for the finals, finishing eighth in the second of two 1,500-meter heats (4:52.39), placing 16th overall.
Tomorrow, Hailey Bull will compete in the triple jump, Sibert will compete in the 100-meter hurdles, Holt and Johnson will compete in the semifinals of the 800-meters, and the 4x400-meter relay team looks to qualify for Saturday’s final.
