SEATTLE, Wash. –
Sophie Curl raced to eighth place at the UW Last Chance Qualifier at Dempsey Indoor on Friday night.
The final weekend to qualify for the NCAA Indoor Championships, Curl competed against a stacked field that included 2012 NCAA champion Katie Flood, racing on her home track.
Curl wasn't dismayed by the stout competition, however, as the redshirt junior from Bellingham, Wash., set a personal record in the mile, turning in a time of 4:43.43 and finishing in eighth place.
“Sophie ran very strong in an elite field,” head coach
Helen Lehman-Winters said of the race. “She positioned herself well and was in a great spot with 400 meters to go but ran out of gas at the finish. I am proud of how well she competed and we know what we need to work on as we approach the outdoor season. She will now have a solid block of training and open up at the Stanford Invitational at the end of the month.”
The top 16 times in each event nationally, based on season bests, earn a spot at the NCAA Indoor Championships that will take place March 8-9 in Fayetteville, Ark. Curl's new personal best would rank her with the 53rd-best time of the season, not counting qualifying times that will be raced throughout the weekend.
Meanwhile, many of Curl's USF teammates take to the outdoor track Saturday at the Stanford Opener. The all-day event at Cobb Track and Angell Field is open to the public with free admission.
