Carsyn Koch of Cedarville University in Ohio was the top qualifier Friday in the preliminaries of the 800-meter run at the NCAA Division II Women’s Outdoor Track and Field Championships at Grand Valley State University in Allendale, Michigan.
The freshman, who is a product of Washburn District High School, led the field of 21 runners with a time of 2 minutes, 6.85 seconds. The effort established a school record and was a personal best for Koch.
Senior Lindsey Butterworth of Simon Fraser College was the second-fastest qualifier in 2:06.87. Koch won the first heat, while Butterworth ran in the third head.
Koch, who was the fourth fastest qualifier in the nation, will attempt to win her first national title on Saturday. The finals are scheduled for Saturday at 3:45 p.m. It is the only event in which she is competing at the NCAAs.
Koch also had earned an automatic qualifier in the 1,500 meters, but decided with her coach, Jeff Bolender, to concentrate on one event.
Koch had prepared for the biggest meet of her young career by winning two events at the National Christian College Athletic Association outdoor championship at Rome, Georgia, earlier this month.
Koch won the 1,500 in 4:24.26 seconds, which was the seventh fastest time in Division II this spring. She also claimed the 800 in 2:12.62.
On April 24, she sped to her previous career best in the 800 with a time of 2:07.25 at the Triton Invitational in San Diego. That shattered a school record (2:09.19) set in 1986 by U.S. Olympic Trials participant Jane Romig Brooker.