JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – The women closed out the NCAA East Regionals on Saturday, as the Irish had 10 athletes compete across five events in the final day of the meet. Notre Dame had a stellar day of competition, qualifying five athletes on the final day of regionals to the NCAA Championships next month.
In total, seven women and four men will represent Notre Dame in Eugene.
Grad student Maura Kimmel got the Irish off to a good start with a 10th place finish in the discus to earn a spot in the NCAA Championship field next month. Kimmel recorded a throw of 54.41m on her first attempt of the day that carried her for the rest of the event.
The Irish carried that onto the track, as the women began the evening by sending both Olivia Markezich and Lauren Sapone to the NCAA Championships in the 3,000m steeplechase. Markezich turned in a time of 9:53.01, good for second in her heat and fourth overall.
Sapone crossed the line in 10:02.26, posting the 11th best time overall, and finishing just inside the top 12 to earn her way to Oregon in June. Teammate AnnaSophia Keller narrowly missed out on making it three Irish athletes to move on, finishing 13th in the event with a time of 10:07.10.
Notre Dame closed the evening with an exclamation mark, sending two more to Eugene with impressive performances in the 5,000m. Katie Wasserman continued her excellent run of finishes, coming in second overall with a time of 15:48.13.
Teammate Maddy Denner turned in the race of her life, setting a PR with a time of 16:07.56 to take sixth in her heat and 12th overall and sending her to the NCAA Championships in Oregon.
Next up for the Irish is the NCAA Championships in Eugene, Oregon, held at the historic Hayward Field. The first day of the championships is Wednesday, June 9.
NCAA REGIONALS – DAY 4
Jacksonville, Florida
May 29, 2021
WOMEN
800m Finals
24 – Kelly Hart (2:07.97)
3,000m Steeplechase Final
4 – Olivia Markezich (9:53.01 – Advances to NCAA Championships)
11 – Lauren Sapone (10:02.26 – Advances to NCAA Championships)
13 – AnnaSophia Keller (10:07.10)
5,000m Final
2 – Katie Wasserman (15:48.13 – Advances to NCAA Championships)
12 – Maddy Denner (PR: 16:07.56 – Advances to NCAA Championships)
29 – Erin Archibeck (16:37.04)
High Jump
18 – Madison Schmidt (1.72m)
Discus
10 – Maura Kimmel (54.41m – Advances to NCAA Championships)
22 – Rachel Tanczos (47.19m)