Venters Garners Third All-America Honors with Runner-Up Finish in 10k

Thursday, June 8

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University of Utah

NCAA Championships

Photo Credit: Brendan Maloney

Venters Garners Third All-America Honors with Runner-Up Finish in 10k

6/8/2023 10:46 PM | Track & Field

1500m Semifinal Results 400mH Semifinal Results 10k Final Results Photo Gallery

Emily Venters was the national runner-up in the 10000m race with a time of 32:47.70.

AUSTIN – Utah track & field senior Emily Venters became the highest NCAA Championships finisher in program history when she crossed the finish line at 32:47.70 to take runner-up honors in the 10000m finals race inside Mike A. Myers Stadium Thursday night.

"They all gave everything they had at the NCAA Championships," said Utah head coach Kyle Kepler postrace. "That was the first finals appearance for all of them."

Simone Plourde was the first Ute to take the track in the semifinals of the 1500m race. The first heat started and finished with a fast pace. Plourde was among the front pack as the race went on but fell to eighth in her heat in the final 200m before crossing the finish line at 4:11.91.

"Simone ran the fastest time to not make the final ever," Kepler noted. "It was a very rough race and she was lucky to not go down. She fought back with 500m to go and just couldn't quite hold on. Recovery for the 5k is her focus now. Dinedye got out great and held on for her second fastest time ever."

Dinedye Denis ran one of her best races this season in the 400m hurdles but it wasn't enough as she saw her collegiate career come to an end after crossing the finish line with a time of 57.73. The graduate transfer from Albany left her mark on the Utah program, finishing with three outdoor records and four indoor records while also sitting in the top-10 in a handful of other events as well.

Like usual, Venters opened the race with the front pack and bided her time before taking lead with 19 laps to go. She then dropped back to give up her lead to the duo from Alabama, but kept the pair within reach with about 15 laps remaining. Venters then retook the lead shortly thereafter with less than 6000m to go.

With about 4000m remaining, Venters reeled it back like before and let the Alabama pair take the lead once more but like before, kept them within striking distance. The lead packed would wind down to five with about 2000m remaining in the race.

Then, with 800m left, Utah Valley's Everlyn Kemboi made her move and separated herself from the lead pack to claim the 10000m title while Venters took runner-up honors after fending off Alabama's Mercy Chelangat to finish with a time of 32:47.70. The second-place finish made the Lawrence, Kans., native is the highest by any Woman of Utah at the NCAA Championships. With her second-place finish, Venters has now earned First-Team All-America honors in all three seasons (cross country, indoor and outdoor), another first in program history.

"Emily ran with amazing poise in 82-degree heat and 71-percent humidity," mentioned Kepler. "The only American in the top-5 and our highest NCAA finisher ever. I couldn't be prouder of the race she ran."

Plourde and Venters will have just over a day's rest before they get one more attempt at an NCAA title on Saturday, June 10, in the 5000m race – which is slated to begin at 8:55 p.m. (MT) and can be seen live on ESPN2.

For the latest news and information on the Utah cross country and track & field programs, fans can stay connected online at www.UtahUtes.com and on social media by following on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

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