LEXINGTON, Ky. – With a top-10 time in school history, freshman Alexia Smith advanced to the quarterfinals as the Purdue track & field team competed on the second day of the 2024 NCAA Outdoor Track & Field Championships East First Round in Lexington, Kentucky, on Thursday.
Smith was one of two Boilermakers to race on Thursday, the second day of the four-day meet to determine who advances to the NCAA Championships in Eugene, Oregon, from June 5-8. Smith and 23 other runners in the 400-meter will run in Saturday's quarterfinal, from which the top 12 finishers move on to the national meet in Oregon.
On a mostly cloudy day that cleared of inclement weather during Purdue's events, Smith ran one of the fastest times in Purdue history in her NCAA debut.
Smith finished in 53.00 seconds and was 18th overall. While she was seventh in the sixth and final heat, her time was fast enough to earn the fourth of six non-automatic qualifying spots. Smith advanced by 0.21 seconds and bested four automatic qualifiers from other heats. Her 18th-place finish comes after she came in seeded No. 37.
The time also is fifth-fastest in program history and the second fastest since 2018. It's a personal-best by 0.56 seconds and moved Smith up from No. 10 in the record books.
Earlier on Thursday afternoon, junior Zoe Sullivan raced in her first NCAA First Round in the 100m hurdles. She crossed the finish line in 14.39 seconds and was 41st.
On Wednesday to begin the weekend, graduate student Cameron Miller advanced to the quarterfinals in the 200m as one of six Boilermakers to compete on the first day at Kentucky's Outdoor Track & Field Complex.
Miller and the men are back on Friday, May 24, and the women conclude their competition on Saturday, May 25. On Friday, the discus starts at 1 p.m., with the squad's first running event the 3,000m steeplechase at 5:40 p.m. Saturday's action gets underway for the Old Gold and Black with the steeplechase at 5:40 p.m. and the triple jump at 6 p.m.
Fans unable to cheer on the Boilermakers in person can follow along with live results and watch all of the action live on ESPN+ (Friday | Saturday). Additional NCAA First Round information, including tickets and the complete schedule, is available UKAthletics.com. Updates from Lexington can be found by following and connecting with the Boilermakers on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook. Direct links to follow along also are available on the schedule page at PurdueSports.com/TrackField.
The Boilermakers have 16 qualifiers this week represented by 18 student-athletes in 14 different events. Purdue has multiple competitors in two events, and one relay also is among the field for the Old Gold and Black.
The NCAA East First Round, along with the West First Round, feature 48 qualifiers in each individual event and 24 teams in each relay. The top 12 finishers in every event from both the east and west will advance to the NCAA Outdoor Track & Field Championships in Eugene, Oregon, from June 5-8.
For more on the Purdue track & field and cross country program, visit PurdueSports.com/TrackField and follow and connect with the Boilermakers on Twitter/X, Instagram and Facebook.
Smith was one of two Boilermakers to race on Thursday, the second day of the four-day meet to determine who advances to the NCAA Championships in Eugene, Oregon, from June 5-8. Smith and 23 other runners in the 400-meter will run in Saturday's quarterfinal, from which the top 12 finishers move on to the national meet in Oregon.
On a mostly cloudy day that cleared of inclement weather during Purdue's events, Smith ran one of the fastest times in Purdue history in her NCAA debut.
Smith finished in 53.00 seconds and was 18th overall. While she was seventh in the sixth and final heat, her time was fast enough to earn the fourth of six non-automatic qualifying spots. Smith advanced by 0.21 seconds and bested four automatic qualifiers from other heats. Her 18th-place finish comes after she came in seeded No. 37.
The time also is fifth-fastest in program history and the second fastest since 2018. It's a personal-best by 0.56 seconds and moved Smith up from No. 10 in the record books.
Earlier on Thursday afternoon, junior Zoe Sullivan raced in her first NCAA First Round in the 100m hurdles. She crossed the finish line in 14.39 seconds and was 41st.
On Wednesday to begin the weekend, graduate student Cameron Miller advanced to the quarterfinals in the 200m as one of six Boilermakers to compete on the first day at Kentucky's Outdoor Track & Field Complex.
Miller and the men are back on Friday, May 24, and the women conclude their competition on Saturday, May 25. On Friday, the discus starts at 1 p.m., with the squad's first running event the 3,000m steeplechase at 5:40 p.m. Saturday's action gets underway for the Old Gold and Black with the steeplechase at 5:40 p.m. and the triple jump at 6 p.m.
Fans unable to cheer on the Boilermakers in person can follow along with live results and watch all of the action live on ESPN+ (Friday | Saturday). Additional NCAA First Round information, including tickets and the complete schedule, is available UKAthletics.com. Updates from Lexington can be found by following and connecting with the Boilermakers on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook. Direct links to follow along also are available on the schedule page at PurdueSports.com/TrackField.
The Boilermakers have 16 qualifiers this week represented by 18 student-athletes in 14 different events. Purdue has multiple competitors in two events, and one relay also is among the field for the Old Gold and Black.
The NCAA East First Round, along with the West First Round, feature 48 qualifiers in each individual event and 24 teams in each relay. The top 12 finishers in every event from both the east and west will advance to the NCAA Outdoor Track & Field Championships in Eugene, Oregon, from June 5-8.
For more on the Purdue track & field and cross country program, visit PurdueSports.com/TrackField and follow and connect with the Boilermakers on Twitter/X, Instagram and Facebook.