OSU Track Wraps Up First Day at NCAA Championships
The Oklahoma State track and field program wrapped up its first day at the Outdoor Championships Wednesday as Natalja Piliusina advanced to the women’s 800 meters final and Tone Hjalmarsen earned USTFCCCA Second-Team All-America honors in the women’s 10,000 meters final.
Piliusina, a freshman, was the first to run, as she finished second in her semifinal heat and sixth overall in 2:04.79 to advance to the final heat. That time was her second-best of the year only to the school-record 2:03.91 she turned in at the Payton Jordan Invitational.
The Klaipeda, Lithuania native will try for her first individual national title on Friday at 7:10 p.m. in the final.
Hjalmarsen, a senior from Bodoe, Norway, wrapped up her Cowgirl career with a 14th-place finish in the women’s 10,000 meters with a time of 35:23.97. It is the first time she has received All-America honors.
resumes competition at the Championships Thursday at 8:50 p.m. when Colby Lowe tries for a title in the men’s 10,000 meters final.
Championships (Day 1)
Des Moines, Iowa | Drake University | June 8, 2011
Women’s 10,000 Meter (Final)
14 Tone Hjalmarsen – 35:23.97
Women’s 800 Meters (Semifinal)
6 Natalja Piliusina – 2:04.79
Updated 06-09-2011
READER COMMENTS