Princeton University Athletics
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Higginson Qualfies for NCAA Steeplechase Title Race
June 10, 2011 | Women's Track and Field
DES MOINES, Iowa (6/9/11) - Senior Ashley Higginson who finished third in the steeplechase last year has another shot at the national title as she qualified for the final this evening on day 2 of the NCAA Track & Field Championships on Drake University in Des Moines, Iowa.
Higginson was fifth in heat 2 and finished seventh overall at 10:03.63 to be one of 14 that will run in the final on Saturday at 12:54 p.m.
She was nestled in behind last year's runner up Colorado's Emma Coburn after lap one with Alyssa Kulik of Clemson. Higginson maintained that position midway through the race and after four laps Coburn was running 4:38.60 with Kulik second at 4:39.38 and Higginson at 4:39.67. The three were in the lead with one lap remaining, before Nicol Traynor of Richmond and Martina Tresch of Kansas State pushed ahead into the top four and moving Higginson into fifth at 10:03.63, just 3.20 behind Coburn's top time.
Higginson will face off again with Coburn, Kulik, Traylor and Tresch, along with Rebeka Stowe of Kansas and Stephanie Garcia of Virginia who have both run sub 10-minute races this season and Sarah Pease of Indiana and Shalaya Kipp of Colorado who both finished in the top 10 one year ago.
Higginson was third in the event last season with at time of 9:52.73. Not only was it her personal best but also a program record. She and Coburn were neck and neck down the stretch with Coburn edging Higginson for second at 9:51.86. Higginson has run the steeplechase just three times this season, her best time coming last weekend at Regionals at 10:00.07.
This is the third year Higginson has competed in the steeplechase at the NCAAs. Suzanne Andrews was the first Tiger to take on the event in the postseason in 2006.
Junior Alex Banfich will run in the finals of the 5,000-meters tomorrow at 8:10 p.m.