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.
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.
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.
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.
