Fry Misses Steeple Final Despite Strong Race

Aggie sophomore posts her second-best time and misses final by just three seconds

Katie Fry
 
Katie Fry
  

June 6, 2013

Results

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EUGENE, Ore. - UC Davis standout Katie Fry finished Thursday's 3,000-meter steeplechase semifinal at the NCAA Div. I Track and Field Championships in 10 minutes, 11.98 seconds - her second-best career time - but did not advance to the national final at Historic Hayward Field.

Fry, a sophomore from Lemon Cove, finished eighth in her heat and 14th overall, earning All-America second-team honors. Fry, who is in her first season racing the steeplechase, broke the school record in just her second race and then gradually lowered it. Her time of 9:58.97 at the NCAA West Region Prelim Meet at Texas two weeks ago marked the first time an Aggie had broken 10 minutes.

Fry was in third place the first time the runners crossed the finish line and was in sixth place the second time during Thursday's semifinal. However, the lead runners were able to build a lead that Fry was not able to overcome. Colorado's Emma Coburn led wire-to-wire and won by nine seconds with a time of 9:46.76.

The top five from each semifinal plus the next two fastest times qualified for Saturday's final. Fry finished just three seconds behind the final qualifier.

UC Davis will have its final race on Friday but it will be a big one with senior Lauren Wallace racing in the 800-meter final at 5:20 p.m. Wallace, who holds the school record in the event in 2:03.39, qualified fifth during Wednesday's prelims.