SEATTLE – Caroline Kurgat from the University of Alaska Anchorage opened the indoor track and field season with a time of 9:07.05 over 3,000, the fastest time ever run by a Div. II student-athlete, at the UW Preview Saturday.
She broke the previous best mark of 9:09.50 set by Amy Harper of Cal Poly in 1983.
The race was the first for Kurgat since she won the 5,000 at the NCAA Div. II National Championships in May. Kurgat's time breaks the UAA school record previously held by Joyce Chelimo (9:17.97) from 2016. Kurgat's time is the fastest time by any collegiate woman regardless of division this season by 11 seconds.
Kurgat joined three other Seawolves who posted NCAA Div. II provisional qualifying marks.
Danielle McCormick and Ruth Cvancara each earned provo marks finishing fourth (2:11.32) and 12th (2:14.04).
Felix Kemboi earned a provo mark for the men in the 3,000 finishing 30th in a time of 8:20.94.
Tylantis Atlas opened her Seawolf career with a sixth place finish in the 400 (58.42).
Yemi Knight placed seventh in the 600 (1:33.43), and Eduardo Orozco finished eighth (1:56.03) in the 800.
Brandon Nicholson finished seventh in the triple jump (44-2), and Chris Brake was eighth (6-4.75) in the high jump.
The women's 4x400 relay, of Tylantis Atlas, Danielle McCormick, Ruth Cvancara and Yvonne Jeschke, finished eighth (3:59.78).
David Sramek finished 11th in the long jump (20-2.25) and 14th in the pole vault (14-7.25).
Alaska Anchorage will compete at the Ed Jacoby Invitational hosted by Boise State Jan. 18th.
