Shapard Qualifies for NCAA Championships

Saturday, May 31

TBA

All Day

University of Utah

NCAA West Regional

5/31/2008 12:00 AM | Track & Field

May 31, 2008

NORTHRIDGE, Calif. - A Mountain West Conference Champion, University of Utah hurdler Chelsea Shapard is now an NCAA Championship qualifier. The Sophomore from Park City, Utah, punched her ticket to the big meet by taking third in the 400m hurdles at the NCAA West Regional here this afternoon. She clocked the event in 59.12.

"Chelsea Shapard getting an automatic bid to the NCAA Championship is a big deal," said head coach Kyle Kepler. "It wasn't her fastest time, but we survived and advanced. The two in front of her were outstanding runners. Chelsea has some areas she needs to improve in, and she knows that. So, we'll hit the track and work it out before we head to the championship meet in 10 days here."

UCLA's Nicole Leach won the 400m hurdles, recording a time of 55.47.

Shapard, being a top-five finisher in an NCAA Regional final, is an automatic qualifier.

Shapard was one of four Utah competitors today. Utah had two athletes compete in the 1,500m race. Alyssa Abbott led the Utes, claiming ninth place in 4:26.43. She was followed by teammate Chelsea DiGrazia who took 11th in 4:30.14. Both Abbott and DiGrazia will wait along side Josefin Berg, who finished 10th in the hammer yesterday, to see if they have earned at-large bids to the championships. At-large invitations will be handed out on Monday.

"Josefin still has a chance to qualify for the championships, and with two top-12 finishers in the 1,500, they too still have a chance make it," said Kepler. "Both Alyssa and Chelsea DiGrazia just missed hitting their PR. The 1,500 was a fast race, and we got off to a slow start. Our two runners picked off the pack ahead of them as the race went on, but we just ran out of real estate."

Michelle Turner from Washington paced the 1,500m pack, winning the event in 4:14.94.

Shayla Houlihan qualified for regional meet in the 3,000m steeplechase. She took 33rd in 11:24.58 this afternoon.

"Shayla had a rough day," said Kepler. "She was not feeling good all day and it just wasn't meant to be for her. She had good runs the last two weeks, and we're proud of her. She was a first-time NCAA Regional qualifier, and she ran her last collegiate race on a pretty big stage."