David Elliott used an all-out last 100 meters in the second heat of the men’s 1,500-meter run to take second place with a time of 3:46.46 on Saturday at the NCAA Division I Outdoor Track and Field West Preliminary Round in Lawrence, Kan., at Rock Chalk Park. The second-place performance in the heat qualified him to the NCAA Division I Outdoor Track and Field National Championships in Eugene, Ore., for the second-consecutive year.
The Puyallup, Wash., native closed hard in the last 50 meters and used a big lean at the line to finish .007 seconds ahead of the third-place runner in what was a true photo finish. In the end, Elliott and Oregon’s Blake Haney both qualified out of the second heat with just the 23rd and 22nd-fastest times of the day.
Running on short rest from yesterday’s 10K, Brenna Peloquin gutted out another strong performance in today’s 5,000-meter run and took third in the first heat with a time of 16:09.14 for her second qualification to nationals.
The freshman showed her maturity again and ran a smart race that saw her eventually work her way to the front of the lead pack at the end of the race. She will be the only women’s freshman out of the west region to compete in the 5K at nationals.
Minttu Hukka (3,000m steeplechase) punched her ticket to nationals after qualifying on Friday at the NCAA Division I Outdoor Track and Field West Preliminary Round in Lawrence, Kan., at Rock Chalk Park.
Hukka -- who is also a freshman in regards to outdoor eligibility -- qualified for nationals in the 3,000-meter steeplechase after crossing the line in a season-best 10:13.48. With the top three times from each of the three heats automatically advancing, her third-place performance in the first heat (11th overall) instantly punched her ticket.
The Finland native will become the first women's freshman in school history to compete in the 3,000-meter steeplechase at nationals. She will be the second Boise State women's athlete to run in the event, joining Marisa Howard who ran in 2013, 2014 and 2015.
Elliott, Peloquin and Minttu Hukka will now shift their focus to nationals in Eugene, Ore., at Hayward Field from June 8-11.
