Track & Field
By The Collegian
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May 30, 2009
Nicol Traynor will not automatically qualify for the NCAA national meet after a 12th place in the East Regional 5,000-meter run, but her school-record performance earlier this season could be enough to secure an at-large bid.
Traynor, a sophomore distance runner, finished in 16 minutes, 36 seconds at the regional meet at North Carolina A&T in Greensboro on Friday night, battling a heavy rain during the race that began just moments before the start.
Posting to his Twitter account during the meet, Steve Taylor, men's track and field coach, said Traynor would find out on Monday whether her 16:17.64 school record -- set in Walnut, Calif., on April 17 -- would be enough for an at-large selection.
Runners finishing first through fifth at each of four regional meets receive automatic slots at nationals, and seven additional invitations are offered to runners with the fastest times this season.