NAU junior Ali Upshaw, running consistently in the pack throughout and recovering from a midrace fall, placed ninth in the NCAA West Regionals 10,000 meters semifinal, earning a place in the event’s finals in Eugene, Ore., in two weeks.
Upshaw, who transferred to NAU from New Mexico last summer, was on pace at 18:12 through 5,200 meters and dipped below 80 seconds per lap in the final mile to easily finish in the top 12. Oklahoma State’s Taylor Roe won the race in 33:46.23.
NAU’s Ruby Smee and Anna Fenske finished 23rd and 25th, respectively, and Meagan Van Pelt was 43rd. None advanced.
Earlier in the evening, in the 1,500 meters heats, Maggi Congdon and Keira Moore both advanced to Saturday’s quarterfinals by finishing in the top five of their heats.
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