University of Massachusets Athletics
University of Massachusetts
NCAA Championship (Day 1)
MacLean Advances to Mile Final at NCAA Championship
March 11, 2016 | Women's Track & Field
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. - University of Massachusetts junior Heather MacLean has advanced to the final in the mile run at the 2016 NCAA Indoor Track and Field Championship following her performance in the preliminaries of the event on Friday at Birmingham CrossPlex. The Peabody, Mass. native will have the opportunity to become the first Minutewoman to capture All-America honors for indoor track when she races on Saturday at 5:10 p.m., Eastern.
MacLean raced in the second of two preliminaries sections, placing third both in her heat and overall with a time of 4 minutes, 36.55 seconds. The time improved upon her previous school record of 4:37.80, set at Boston University's David Hemery Valentine Invitational back on Feb. 12. MacLean was just .4 seconds off the pace of first-place Elinor Purrier of New Hampshire who entered the meet with the top mile time in the nation.
In total 10 runners, top four in each heat plus the next two fastest times, moved on to Saturday’s final. The top eight finishers in the event will receive All-America recognition. All the action from the NCAA Indoor Track and Field Championships is being streamed live online via ESPN3.
