University of Minnesota Athletics
Dorniden, Rue Advance in NCAA First Day
6/11/2009 12:00:00 AM | Women's Track & Field
Senior Heather Dorniden advanced to the semifinal of the 800 meters at the NCAA Outdoor Track & Field Championships on Wednesday. After over a 3-hour inclement weather delay, Alicia Rue cleared three straight bars to advance to Friday’s final in the pole vault.
Dorniden won her heat with a time of 2 minutes, 5.16, the fourth-fastest qualifying time into Thursday’s 7:15 p.m. semifinal race.
Dorniden, the most decorated Golden Gopher women’s track athlete in Minnesota history, grabbed the lead at the 200-meter break and breezed to a comfortable victory.
“I can honestly say that how I wish a prelim always felt,” said Dorniden, an eight-time NCAA All-American. “It felt amazing. That was the best feeling race I’ve had all year so that’s a really good sign going into the rest of the meet.”
Sophomore Nikki Swenson also competed in the race in making her NCAA track debut. Swenson finished seventh in her heat clocking a time of 2:10.08.
The delay, which pushed the start of the event to 10:15 p.m., didn’t seem to bother Rue in the slightest. The NCAA indoor runner-up passed on the opening height then calmly worked her way to the final by clearing three heights finishing at the top qualifying height of 13-5 1/4. She was one of four vaulters to get through the preliminary round without a miss. The top 12 advanced to the final.
The University of Arkansas is hosting the NCAA Championships at John McDonnell Field in Fayetteville, Ark. The Championships run through Saturday.
Dorniden won her heat with a time of 2 minutes, 5.16, the fourth-fastest qualifying time into Thursday’s 7:15 p.m. semifinal race.
Dorniden, the most decorated Golden Gopher women’s track athlete in Minnesota history, grabbed the lead at the 200-meter break and breezed to a comfortable victory.
“I can honestly say that how I wish a prelim always felt,” said Dorniden, an eight-time NCAA All-American. “It felt amazing. That was the best feeling race I’ve had all year so that’s a really good sign going into the rest of the meet.”
Sophomore Nikki Swenson also competed in the race in making her NCAA track debut. Swenson finished seventh in her heat clocking a time of 2:10.08.
The delay, which pushed the start of the event to 10:15 p.m., didn’t seem to bother Rue in the slightest. The NCAA indoor runner-up passed on the opening height then calmly worked her way to the final by clearing three heights finishing at the top qualifying height of 13-5 1/4. She was one of four vaulters to get through the preliminary round without a miss. The top 12 advanced to the final.
The University of Arkansas is hosting the NCAA Championships at John McDonnell Field in Fayetteville, Ark. The Championships run through Saturday.
Players Mentioned
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