Results
COLLEGE STATION, Texas - Senior Brionna Thomas advanced to the 400-meter dash finals after breaking her own school record Friday at the NCAA Indoor Championships. Thomas ran a time of 52.17 seconds to advance with the seventh-fastest time of the semifinals.
"I'm excited to make finals in the event," Thomas said. "This is my third time making nationals in the 400, but I've never made it to finals. So, this is a great accomplishment, especially as a senior."
Thomas came out of lane 4 in the third heat. Her top competition in the heat was USC senior Kendall Ellis, who ranks third in the NCAA this year, and Oregon junior Briyahna Desrosiers. Thomas was behind both after the first 200 meters, but as he does best, she made up ground late in the race. She put on her move in the final 100 meters and moved up to second, where she finished with her school record time.
Thomas has broken her own school record in back-to-back meets, including the Big Ten Championships where she took second.
Sophomore Chloe Abbott was also in the 400-meter dash Friday. She was in lane 4 in the first heat against Florida junior Sharrika Barnett, who is fourth in the NCAA, Oregon freshman Shae Anderson and USC sophomore Kyra Constantine. Abbott was in third from the break point and hung with the lead group, but was unable to pass. She finished with a time of 53.18 seconds to take 11th in the country. She earns second team All-America honors, her first in an individual event.
Purdue has three events Saturday. Junior Sarah Loesch will get things started at 5:30 p.m. ET in the weight throw. Thomas will then compete in the 400m dash finals at 6, followed by the women's 4x400-meter relay at 7:55.