Distance runner Alex Burkhart continues to add to a magical freshman season while immediately establishing herself as one of the top steeplechase competitors in the program’s history. Just two weeks after posting the second-fastest steeple time ever by a Wildcat, Burkhart topped that by over five seconds Saturday at the Long Beach State-hosted Beach Invitational, and in the process earned an NCAA Automatic qualifying mark. Her outstanding effort on the track makes Burkhart the latest Wildcat of the Week.
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Burkhart won the Beach Invitational’s 3,000-meter steeplechase with a meet record time of 10:27.26, bettering her time of 10:32.58 from the Apr. 3 San Francisco State Distance Carnival. The run left Burkhart just 1.29 seconds behind Amy Schnittger’s school record in the event.
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With the Automatic qualifying mark, Burkhart is now guaranteed the opportunity to compete for the national steeplechase title at next month’s NCAA Track & Field Championship in Allendale, Mich.
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Burkhart and the rest of the Chico State women’s track & field team has some more immediate business to attend to before nationals – namely, defending the California Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA) women’s track & field crown. The Wildcats will attempt to win their sixth straight conference team title at the CCAA Track & Field Championships Apr. 30-May 2 at San Francisco State.
