ALLENDALE, Mich.—If you're going to earn All-America honors, why not shake up the Chico State record books while you're at it? That's exactly what Marissa D'Atri did Friday on the second day of the NCAA Track & Field Championships, as the talented Wildcats distance runner registered the third-fastest 3,000-meter steeplechase time in program history on the way to a seventh place finish and All-America status in action at Grand Valley State in Allendale, Michigan.
Friday actually got off to a frustrating start for Chico State when men's distance runner Conor Wells was forced to withdraw from the 800-meter preliminaries due to an injury sustained while running during Thursday's 1,500-meter preliminaries. That left D'Atri as the only Wildcat competing on the day.
She did not disappoint.
Running in humid conditions, D'Atri was still able to post a PR time of 10:24.30, shaving nearly seven seconds off her previous best in the event. The time also moved D'Atri past Amy Schnittger and into third place on Chico State's all-time steeplechase Top 10 list.
D'Atri employed what proved to be a productive strategy: starting towards the back of the 12-runner field, then emerging about midway through the seven-and-a-half-lap race to begin challenging the leaders. D'Atri reached as high as fifth place in laps four through five before slipping back to seventh place down the stretch. The Martinez native crossed the finish line about 17 seconds behind the winner, Eleonora Curtabbi of West Texas A&M, but easily placed among the top eight runners, securing the first All-America honor of her Chico State career.
With her outstanding effort Friday, D'Atri becomes the first Chico State women's track & field runner to earn All-America honors in the steeplechase since Alex Burkhart posted a sixth place finish at the 2018 NCAA Track & Field Championships in Charlotte, North Carolina.
The 'Cats now have two All-America awards in this year's edition of the national meet, as D'Atri joins Cristian Brady as the lone Wildcats to reach the awards podium. Amy Bell and Rory Abberton hope to add to the 'Cats' total on Saturday's final day of the NCAA Track & Field Championships.
Bell will compete in the finals of the women's pole vault at 9:30 a.m. Pacific time, while Abberton will be among the 12 runners toeing the line at 11:25 a.m. Pacific in the finals of the 1,500-meter run. The eight highest finishers in each event will earn First Team All-America honors.
Fans can keep up with Saturday's final day results and watch live streaming video online, with links available at
www.chicowildcats.com in the calendar section of the website's homepage, and on the Chico State men's and women's track & field schedule pages.
CHICO STATE EVENT RESULTS AND UPCOMING SCHEDULE
Thursday, May 26
Men's Pole Vault (Final)
Cristian Brady—third place, 5.30 meters (new program record)
EARNS ALL-AMERICA
Men's 1,500-Meter Run (Preliminaries)
Rory Abberton—eighth place in heat, eighth place overall, 3:44.64
ADVANCES TO SATURDAY 1,500-METER FINAL
Conor Wells—ninth place in heat, 15th place overall, 3:47.75
DID NOT ADVANCE TO SATURDAY 1,500-Meter Final
Women's 3,000-Meter Steeplechase
Marissa D'Atri—fifth in heat, 11th place overall, 10:34.43
ADVANCES TO FRIDAY 3,000-METER STEEPLECHASE FINAL
Men's 10,000-Meter Run (Final)
Brayden McLaughlin—22nd place overall, 31:41.09
Friday, May 27
Men's 800-Meter Preliminaries
Conor Wells—did not start; withdrew due to injury
Women's 3,000-Meter Steeplechase (Final)
Marissa D'Atri—seventh place overall, 10:24.30 (third fastest time in program history)
EARNS ALL-AMERICA
Saturday, May 28
9:30 a.m.: Women's Pole Vault (Final) – Amy Bell
11:25 a.m.: Men's 1,500-Meter (Final) – Rory Abberton
