GENEVA, Ohio – Brandeis University senior Doyin Ogundiran (Dix Hills, N.Y./Half Hollow Hills East) finished in fourth place in her heat and 11th overall in the 800-meter run today at the NCAA Division III Outdoor Track and Field Championships at the SPIRE Institute in Geneva, Ohio, today.
In a tightly packed race, compared to the first two heats that featured clear front-runners, Ogundiran was able to stay within striking distance of the leaders. She moved into third place in the heat during the final straightaway, but was unable to move into the top two positions that would have sent her to her first career individual final automatically. However, because of interference coming around the turn into the home stretch, she will be given a chance to earn All-America honors, having been advanced to tomorrow's final.
Even with the interference, Ogundiran's time of 2:13.74 was her second-fastest of the season, behind only her qualifying time of 2:13.20. She has improved each year in her performance at the NCAA Outdoor championships, finishing 16th as a sophomore and 14th last year. This is her sixth trip to an NCAA Championship, with one cross country race, two indoor championships in the distance medley relay, and three individual trips in the 800. She won two All-America honors in the DMR, including this year's national championship.
The Judges will wrap up at the NCAA Outdoor Track and Field championships tomorrow. At 12:25 p.m., senior Emily Bryson (Quincy, Mass./North Quincy) goes for her fourth career national title and ninth career All-America honor as the top seed in the 1,500-meter run. Ogundiran will run in the 800-meter final at 1:50 p.m.
