From Washington University Athletics
During the opening day of the NCAA Division III Outdoor Track & Field National Championships, the No. 7-ranked Washington University in St. Louis women have an early lead with 19 points.
The Bears women secured 19 points, thanks to a trio of All-American finishes. Sophomore Paige Lawler and senior Aly Wayne kicked things off with third and fourth place finishes in the 10,000m run, while junior Heidi Nassos posted a runner-up finish in the pole vault. In second after the first day of events is Illinois Wesleyan University with 18 points. The Bears also had four qualifying times during prelims on Thursday.
Women's 10,000m (Final)
Sophomore Paige Lawler and senior Aly Wayne held steady with the group of 22 runners for the opening 5,000 meters of the race before separating from the group for All-American finishes. Lawler placed third with a time of 35:58.38 and Wayne placed fourth with a time of 36:02.84. Both Lawler and Wayne saved their two fastest laps for the conclusion of the race.
Women's Pole Vault (Final)
Junior Heidi Nassos battled through windy conditions to post a height of 3.80m, which earned the Wheaton, Ill.-native a national runner-up finish in pole vault. Ohio Northern's Madison Reed took first with a height of 3.95m. Freshman Julia Dannenbaum finished in 12th place with a height of 3.65m.
Women's Steeplechase (Prelims)
Senior Alison Lindsay earned a spot in Saturday's steeplechase finals by placing in the second heats top-five. She finished 10th overall with a time of 10:53.88. Junior Abby Martin finished 16th overall with a time of 11:00.44, two seconds outside the 14th and final spot in the finals.
Women's 4x400m Relay (Prelims)
Sophomore Nicky Althoff, freshman Sophie Grigaux, sophomore Sara Mesiano and senior Annalise Wagner qualified for finals with a time of 3:49.43. The group placed seventh overall with a season-best finish.