Smith, Tolbert, Wilson Punch Tickets to NCAA Outdoor Championships

Saturday, May 25

Lexington, Ky.

All Day

Duke University

Day Four at NCAA East Regional

Lauren Tolbert punches ticket to NCAAs in 800m

Photo by: Duke Athletics

Smith, Tolbert, Wilson Punch Tickets to NCAA Outdoor Championships

5/25/2024 10:43:00 PM | Track & Field

Final Results (PDF)

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

Simen Guttormsen – Pole Vault
Christian Johnson – Hammer Throw
Ezra Mellinger – Long Jump
Moorea Mitchell – Hammer Throw
Aimar Palma Simo – Hammer Throw
Brianna Smith – Heptathlon, High Jump
Lauren Tolbert – 800m
Skyla Wilson – 100m hurdles

To stay up to date with Blue Devils cross country and track & field, follow the team on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook by searching "DukeTFXC."

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