Indiana University Athletics
Behnke Qualifies for NCAA Championships
5/28/2015 10:14:00 AM | Track and Field
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. -- Redshirt sophomore Amanda Behnke started near the back of the pack in the 10,000m run, but by the end of the race she had qualified for the NCAA Championships as the Hoosiers concluded the first day at the NCAA East Preliminary.
Behnke finished in 12th place in a time of 34:31.86 to punch her ticket to Eugene, Ore., June 10-13 for the NCAA Outdoor Track and Field Championships.
"Passing each girl was getting closer and closer to making it to nationals and that is what I kept on telling myself," Behnke said. "I knew some of them were going to come back to me, but I couldn't back off, I had to keep pressing the whole way. It hurt, but I knew everyone was hurting and I knew I had to stay tough."
Rorey Hunter finished fourth in his heat in a very tactical race of the 1500m in 4:00.66 where the top five were separated by five tenths of a second. Hunter had the fastest last lap in 52.87 and will advance to the quarterfinals in the event, which will be contested on Saturday at 6:45 p.m.
Senior Derrick Morgan advanced to the quarterfinals of the 400m with a career-best of 46.38, the 13th fastest time on the day. Morgan's time is also the ninth fastest time in IU school history.
Day two will get underway on Friday May 29 with the women's discus at 12:00 p.m.
