University of Richmond Athletics
University of Richmond
Georgia Tech Invitational
Traynor Chases Down School Record, NCAA Spot In Steeple At Georgia Tech
05/17/2009 | Women's Track & Field
May 17, 2009
ATLANTA - Sophomore Nicol Traynor smashed the school record and achieved an NCAA qualifying marking in the 3,000m steeplechase at the Georgia Tech Invitational this weekend in Atlanta. She is one of four Spiders headed to the NCAA East Regional Championship in Greensboro, N.C. in two weeks.
In her first career steeplechase race, Traynor cruised to the event's gold medal with her time of 10:28.46, which was 22 seconds under the NCAA Regional qualifying standard and 21 seconds faster than the three-year old school mark. She beat Samford's Hillary Neal on Saturday by 19 seconds.
Former Spider Nicole Kurtain established the previous school record of 10:49.20 in 2006.
Traynor has already an NCAA qualifying mark in the 5,000m, thanks to her performance at the Mt. SAC Relays in April. The sophomore has now set three school outdoor records this season: 3,000m, 5,000m, and the 3,000m steeple.
Also for the Spiders, Andrew Benford, Sean Welsh and Heather Roush used the meet as a tune-up for the NCAA Regional Championships in Greensboro, N.C. in two weeks, having already achieved qualifying standards.
Roush finished fourth in the javelin (40.51m). Benford was 26th in the 1,500m (3:55.36), while Welsh took 33rd (3:59.54) in the same event.
Three others were attempting to earn NCAA Regional spots but fell short in their bids. Monica Howard was eighth in the discus 41.60m and ninth in the hammer throw (47.25m). Garrett Graham took seventh in the 3,000m steeplechase (9:25.22). Pierre Turner was seventh in the discus (48.39m).
Stay tuned to RichmondSpiders.com for complete coverage of the NCAA East Regional Championship, in Greensboro May 29-30.
