Princeton University Athletics
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Barowski & Bird Claim Tickets to Eugene on Day 2 of NCAA Regionals
May 30, 2015 | Women's Track and Field
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. (5/29/15) - Junior Cecilia Barowski and sophomore Lizzie Bird have punched their tickets to the NCAA Championships, making it total of three, so far, for the Princeton women's track & field team.
Barowski was the final qualifier in the quarterfinal round of the 800 meters. She was fourth in heat 1 and advances by having one of the three fastest times out of third place. Barowski clocked a 2:05.02 to make the top 12 from the East that will race in Eugene. This is her first time making the finals in her collegiate career. She is just the second Tiger to compete at the NCAAs in the 800, joining Lauren Simmons who ended up with a second-place finish in the 800 at the 2002 championships. Barowski has a PR of 2:02.14 in the 800.
Bird will join Barowski on that flight to Oregon as she makes the championship weekend the first time as well. Bird was eighth overall and third in heat 1 of the steeplechase with a time of 9:54.76
Bird punched her ticket to Eugene in the steeplechase. She finished with a PR of 9:54.76 to take eighth overall and third in heat 1. She shaved nearly four seconds off her previous best of 9:58.33 run at Larry Ellis this season. Bird is the first Tiger to compete at the NCAA Championship in the steeplechase since Ashley Higginson in 2011.
Junior Emily de La Bruyere clocked a PR of 10:14.11 to finish 25th overall in the steeplechase, settting up a great senior season next year at Old Nassau.
Two more Tigers will have at it tomorrow on the final day of Regionals. The reigning national champion in the hammer throw, Julia Ratcliffe looks to defend her crown as she faces the top-ranked thrower in the NCAA this spring Brooke Pleger of Bowling Green tomorrow at 1 p.m., in what should be an excellent precursor to the national final. Junior Kathryn Fluehr looks to join fellow distance runner, Megan Curham on the flight West. Curham, who qualified for her second straight 10k final, will cheer on Fluehr in the 5k at 8:05 p.m.