NCAA Outdoor Nationals -- Day 1
Aug 14, 2001 | Track & Field
May 30, 2001
Eugene, Oregon - Kansas State's Korene Hinds finished second in her heat of the 800 meters and advanced to Saturday's finals to lead the Wildcats during the first day of the NCAA Outdoor Track and Field Championships Wednesday at the University of Oregon's Hayward Field.
Hinds, the Big 12 champion in both the 800 and 1,500 meters, advanced to the 800-meter final on Friday as she finished second in the first heat with a time of 2:06.13.
The top two in each heat plus the next two best times qualified for the final. She finished second to national leader Brigita Langerholc of USC by just 0.44 of a second. It was the fifth-best time overall in the prelim. It was Hinds' third-best 800-meter time of the season. Mary Jayne Harrelson of Appalachian State had the prelim's fastest time at 2:05.45.
"Korene's race wasn't as easy as she would have liked, or as easy as we would have liked," said Wildcat head coach Cliff Rovelto. "She ran from the back the whole way and even found herself in the rear with just about 150 meters to go. She finished strong and ran through the line to advance to the final and that's all that matters."
In the lone final of the day for the Wildcats, Big 12 heptathlon champion Austra Skujyte scored a mark of 18-8 in the long jump and did not advance to the finals. She scored a foul and then landed behind the board twice on her takeoff to limit her final distance.
"Austra didn't advance and we didn't expect her to," said Rovelto. "We are approaching these first few days as preparation for the heptathlon. It's not a problem."
The NCAA Championships continue tomorrow as Skujyte and Rebekah Green compete in the women's shot put at 6 p.m., and Terence Newman runs the 100-meter prelims at 5:45 p.m. (PDT).
Kansas State Performances - NCAA Championships, Eugene, Ore.
Women's 800m prelims -- 1. Mary Jayne Harrelson, Appalachian State, 2:05.45. 5. Korene Hinds, K-State, 2:06.13.
Women's Long Jump -- Austra Skujyte, 18-8.
--ksu--
