Branch Scores in Steeplechase While Eriksen Advances to 800m Finals on Saturday
BOULDER, Colo. – Karli Branch picked up a top-10 finish in the 3000m steeplechase finals while Josefine Eriksen advanced to the 800m files for the Utah track & field team Saturday at Potts Field on day two of the Pac-12 Outdoor Track & Field Championships.
Harley Daniel got the day started for Utah on the track in the 100m hurdles as the sophomore posted a mark of 13.84 (aa) in the prelims. Chloe Shewell followed in the 400m dash with a new personal best run of 56.20 (aa) in her first championship meet race.
Emily Martin led the quartet of Utes in the 100m dash prelims with a time of 11.75 (aa). Megan Rose was the next fastest for Utah, checking in at 12.01 (aa) while Malia Overton ran a 12.30 (aa) with freshman J'neya Hill checking in at 12.42 (aa).
Eriksen, who recently qualified for the Olympics with the Norwegian 4x400m relay team, earned a spot in the 800m finals on Saturday after running 2:02.56 (aa) for the fifth-fastest time in the prelims. Meanwhile, Brooke Manson narrowly missed out on making the finals with a mark of 2:06.08. Bri Rinn continued to have a solid season in the 800m event, once again running a new personal best – this time 2:07.03 (aa). Freshman Kyla Martin recorded a time of 2:09.39 in the same heat as Rinn. Millie Wilcox also ran in the event, crossing the finish line at 2:13.84 (aa) while Annie Murdock checked in at 2:15.25 (aa).
Branch closed out the day on the track for Utah with a sixth-place finish in the 3000m steeplechase finals with a time of 10:53.52 (aa) – giving Utah another three points.
Championship Sunday at the Pac-12 Outdoor Track & Field Championships is set to begin at 1 p.m. (MDT) with the women's 4x100m relay while the whole day will air in its entirety on the Pac-12 Networks with Jim Watson and Tom Feuer on the call along with Ato Boldon.
For the latest news and information on the Utah cross country and track & field programs, fans can stay connected online at www.UtahUtes.com and on social media by following on Facebook, X and Instagram.
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