Courtney Second at Regionals; Earns Automatic Spot to NCAA Championship in 1,500m

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KNOXVILLE, Tenn. -- Michaela Courtney placed second overall in the 1,500m run at the 2006 NCAA Mideast Regional, earning her a trip to the NCAA Championship. Courtney, who lead the race coming down the home stretch before just being outlegged, ran a personal-best time of 4:18.10. Teammate Cassie Peller placed seventh overall, clocking 4:25.43 - also a personal best.

"For Michaela and Cassie to run as well as they did, peaking at the right time of the season in a championship race, says quite a bit about them." said head coach Dave Uhrich. "To run a trial and a final, one tactical and one fast race, and come up with personal-best times is terrific. We're very happy." Courtney also competed at the NCAA Indoor Championship, in the mile run.

The top five finishers in each event in each of four regions around the country earn an automatic spot in the field of the national championships, held in early June at Sacramento State.

In other results, Jenna Mahaffey competed in the discus, but did not make it out of the trials. She had a throw of 131'1" (39.96m). Terri Emond competed in the 3,000m steeplechase, placing 18th overall in the finals, in a time of 11:01.58.