By: Jeff Evans, Assistant AD for Athletic Communications
PITTSBURG, Kan. – The Western Washington University Track & Field program rose to the occasion with several standout performances on the opening day of the 2024 NCAA Division II Indoor Track & Field Championships inside the Robert W. Plaster Center.
Senior Marian Ledesma highlighted Friday's performances on the campus of Pittsburg State University, breaking her own school record in the prelims of the 800m with a time of 2:08.57. Ledesma automatically qualified for Saturday's finals by winning the opening heat, breaking her previous school record time and personal best of 2:10.13 set at the Husky Classic earlier this season. Her time Friday was the No. 2 mark entering the finals trailing only 2:05.66 by Alaysia Brooks of Ursuline. The finals for the women's 800m is scheduled for 4:35 pm PT/6:35 pm CT, with Ledesma going for another All-America award in her sixth career trip to nationals in cross country and track & field. Last season she earned First Team All-America honors placing 5th at the outdoor championships in Pueblo, Colorado.
Junior Kevin McDermott earned Second Team All-America honors finishing 12th in the men's 5000m race in a time of 14:16.91. The triple gold medal winner at the GNAC Championships entered the meet ranked 7th in the nation with a season-best mark and school-record time of 13:50.77 set at the UW Invitational.
The women's DMR team of Sophie Wright (1200m), Caitlyn Cheney (400m), Emmy Kroontje (800m) and Ila Davis (Mile) placed 9th in a time of 11:30.31. While just missing a podium spot by less than a second, the quartet gathered Second Team All-America honors from the USTFCCCA for the top 10 finish. WWU entered the meet with the 6th-best time in the nation this season clocking 11:27.45 at the Ken Shannon Last Chance Meet.
SATURDAY'S SCHEDULE OF EVENTS
Here is a look at the schedule for WWU student-athletes on Saturday at the NCAA II Indoor Championships. Fans can follow the results at wwuvikings.com/TF_Live and watch the meet at NCAA.com.
