Kolbe Advances to Women’s 800m Quarterfinals at NCAA Outdoor Track and Field East Region First Round

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Smilla Kolbe cruised in her heat to notch an automatic qualifying spot into the quarterfinals of the women’s 800m at the NCAA Outdoor Track and Field East Region First Round on Thursday afternoon at Visit Jax Track at Hodges Stadium.

Kolbe ran her way to a first-place finish in her heat and fifth overall among the top 48 runners in the East region. She clocked in at 2:02.29 to be one of 24 athletes to advance to Saturday’s round of 800m races.

“Smilla [Kolbe] looked very smooth today,” said head coach Jeff Pigg. “She controlled the race and continues her mission to compete at the finals.”

The senior is one top-12 time away from clinching back-to-back appearances in the women’s 800m at the NCAA Outdoor Track & Field Championships. She also one step closer to potentially earning First Team All-American honors in both indoor and outdoor for the 800m race in the same season.

Ella Chandler followed Kolbe in the next heat of the 800m race, where she notched 2:07.67 to be sixth in her heat. It was the first time in program history for the women’s squad that two Ospreys qualified for the national regional round in the same event.

“Ella [Chandler] famines a lot of experience throughout the last few weeks of the season,” Pigg continued. “Today was another big step in her development. She now knows she can run at this level.”

Kolbe will move on to the quarterfinal round of the women’s 800m, which will take place on Saturday, May 31, at 7:05 p.m., hosted at Visit Jax Track at Hodges Stadium. The top 12 times will advance to Eugene, Ore., with the top three from each heat automatically qualifying plus the next three heats.