University of Minnesota Athletics
Dorniden Advances to NCAA Indoor Title Race
3/14/2009 12:00:00 AM | Women's Track & Field
Minnesota senior Heather Dorniden won her preliminary heat of the 800 meters at the NCAA Indoor Track & Field Championships to advance to Saturday’s title race. Dorniden will compete in the national championship race for the seventh time in illustrious Golden Gopher track career.
Dorniden clocked a time of 2 minutes, 5.57 seconds in the third of three preliminary heats. The seven-time All-American made her move to the lead at the race’s midway point then held of LSU’s LaTavia Thomas (2:05.91) to win the heat.
The field that will toe the line at 6:20 p.m. on Saturday with a national title in the balance is once again a familiar cast of characters with plenty of NCAA hardware on their resumes. Dorniden (2006 indoor) is one of three runners who have NCAA titles in the event. Thomas is the defending champion, while Michigan’s Geena Gall won the event at the 2008 outdoor meet. Throw into the mix, Tennessee junior Phoebe Wright who owns the top time in the nation (2:02.39) this season.
Dorniden has placed in the top three in her NCAA indoor 800-meter races national champion in 2006, third in 2007 and second in 2008.
The Gophers’ distance medley relay finished 12th with a time of 11:26.40. Dorniden ran the lead off 1,200-meter leg, followed by Julie Schwengler (400 meters), Jamie Cheever (800 meters) and Gabriele Anderson (1,600 meters). Tennessee’s DMR cruised to the title by over five seconds, running an NCAA-record time of 10:50.98.
Pole vaulter Alicia Rue will also compete on Saturday. She enters the competition with the number-one seed after clearing 14 feet, 4 inches earlier this season. Rue placed fourth in the event a year ago to earn her first All-America honor.
Dorniden clocked a time of 2 minutes, 5.57 seconds in the third of three preliminary heats. The seven-time All-American made her move to the lead at the race’s midway point then held of LSU’s LaTavia Thomas (2:05.91) to win the heat.
The field that will toe the line at 6:20 p.m. on Saturday with a national title in the balance is once again a familiar cast of characters with plenty of NCAA hardware on their resumes. Dorniden (2006 indoor) is one of three runners who have NCAA titles in the event. Thomas is the defending champion, while Michigan’s Geena Gall won the event at the 2008 outdoor meet. Throw into the mix, Tennessee junior Phoebe Wright who owns the top time in the nation (2:02.39) this season.
Dorniden has placed in the top three in her NCAA indoor 800-meter races national champion in 2006, third in 2007 and second in 2008.
The Gophers’ distance medley relay finished 12th with a time of 11:26.40. Dorniden ran the lead off 1,200-meter leg, followed by Julie Schwengler (400 meters), Jamie Cheever (800 meters) and Gabriele Anderson (1,600 meters). Tennessee’s DMR cruised to the title by over five seconds, running an NCAA-record time of 10:50.98.
Pole vaulter Alicia Rue will also compete on Saturday. She enters the competition with the number-one seed after clearing 14 feet, 4 inches earlier this season. Rue placed fourth in the event a year ago to earn her first All-America honor.
Players Mentioned
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