LEXINGTON, Ky. – Senior
Brianna Smith, sophomore
Lauren Tolbert and graduate student
Skyla Wilson headlined the final day of regional action for Duke track and field as the trio turned in personal-best performances in their respective events en route to punching their tickets to the NCAA Outdoor Championships.
With Saturday's three bids, Duke concludes the four-day regional meet with eight total NCAA qualifiers set to represent the Blue Devils across eight events.
TOP PERFORMANCES
- Sophomore Lauren Tolbert delivered the stoutest performance of the day, sprinting her way to the top of the Duke charts via a phenomenal race in the women's 800m.
- Tolbert parlayed the fastest 800m race of her career into an NCAA Championship bid as she blazed to a finish of 2:01.98 to earn the automatic qualifier, smashing the eight-year-old Duke record in the process.
- Having already advanced to the national meet in the women's heptathlon, Smith garnered her second qualification to the NCAA Outdoor Championships behind a career performance in the women's high jump.
- Smith cleared the opening four heights on her initial jump before bowing out of the competition with a final mark of 1.81m (5-11.25 feet) – good for ninth overall in the 48-member field. The senior's jump was nearly a one-foot improvement on her previous best and moved her up to No. 2 all-time in program lore.
- Two days after notching a PR in the first round of the 100m hurdles, Wilson one-upped her performance in the quarterfinal round to secure her spot in Eugene. The graduate student clocked a career best 13.01 seconds to qualify on time, improving her second-fastest Duke mark.
2024 NCAA Outdoor Championship Qualifiers
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