Trio of Track & Field Women Complete Stint at NCAA Championships

Thursday, June 8

Eugene, Ore.

ALL DAY

Tulane University

NCAA Outdoor Track & Field Championships

Trio of Track & Field Women Complete Stint at NCAA Championships

Jun 8, 2017 | Men's Track and Field, Women's Track and Field, Track & Field

Alyssa Applebee sets new program mark and records best ever finish in pole vault

NCAA CHAMPIONSHIP CENTRAL

EUGENE, Ore. – Thursday evening at the NCAA Outdoor Track & Field Championships meant it was the women's turn to step out and compete in front of the crowd at historic Hayward Field. Tulane boasted three competitors on Thursday in senior Alyssa Applebee (pole vault), sophomore Jessica Duckett (400m hurdles) and senior Daliadiz Ortiz (javelin).

Applebee, who ranked 18^th nationally heading into the event, saved her best performance for the big stage. The senior not only cleared a personal best 4.30m, but also set the new program record as well - topping the previous mark of 4.27m, which was also set by Applebee.

Applebee's stellar performance resulted in a seventh place showing, which marked the best finish in school history at the NCAA Championships in the event. As a result, Applebee earned First Team All-America honors, marking the second straight year a Tulane representative has picked up the First-Team accolade, following Jasmine Blocker in 2016.

Applebee became the third Tulane All-American pole vaulter and first to receive first-team honors.

"So impressed with how Applebee competed today," Director of Cross Country and Track & Field Eric Peterson said. "She really put herself in a position to place high as the event unfolded. To finish the season with a new personal best and a seventh place finish, scoring a couple points for the team - first team All-American - is just wonderful."

Over in the 400m hurdles, Duckett made her first ever NCAA Championship appearance, becoming just the third in program history to run in said event at the national meet.

The sophomore ran a time of 58.47, which earned her a fifth place finish in heat three. However, her time did place 12^th overall in the 22-woman field, thus earning Duckett Second Team All-America status.

"The running she did out of lane one was really impressive," Peterson said. "It wasn't a lifetime best but it was really good performance. With her having this kind of experience early on in her career, I'm hoping it will serve as giant spring board for next season."

Speaking of first ever appearances at the NCAA Championships, Ortiz wrapped her stellar Tulane career by competing in today's javelin finals. Ortiz finished in 17^th place with a best mark of 49.73m, which will earn her All-America honorable mention.

"I'm sure Dali will be a little disappointed with today's result, but she's been in the program for five years and to have it culminate at the NCAA Championships is a great ending," Peterson explained. "I'm so proud of the leadership she has displayed and how she represented us with honor and distinction. I'm really proud of her and how's she's performed throughout her career."

Up next, Emmanuel Rotich is the last man standing for the Green Wave in Eugene, Oregon. The sophomore will run in two events on Friday, starting with finals of the 3,000m steeplechase at 7:54 p.m. CT. Then Rotich will run the 5,000m final at approximately 9:25 p.m. Fans can catch tomorrow night's action on ESPN.