JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Senior distance runner Emily Mackay has advanced to the NCAA Outdoor Track & Field Championships in the women's 5,000. It marks the second time in her career that she will represent Binghamton at a national meet, having qualified for the NCAA Cross Country Championships back in March.
On Saturday night at the NCAA East Regional Meet at North Florida, Mackay raced in the second of two 24-runner heats in the women's 5,000 finals. She was third in her heat and third overall with a time of 15:48.72.
The top five runners in each of the two heats – plus the next two fastest times – punched their tickets to the NCAA Championships. Mercy Chelangat of Alabama won Mackay's heat with a time of 15:45.59 followed by Katie Wasserman of Notre Dame, who was second with a time of 15:48.13. Those two runners along with Mackay had the three fastest times of the 48-runner field.
"What an exciting race for Emily," distance coach Annette Acuff said. "Once again, she rose to the challenge and we couldn't be happier for her. We are thrilled that she will be competing at the national level again."
The NCAA Track & Field Championships will take place June 9-12 at the University of Oregon. The women's 5K is scheduled for Saturday, June 12 at 7:55 p.m. EST. The event will be aired live on ESPNU.
"I am beyond excited to have punched a ticket to nationals," Mackay said. "It was a big goal of mine. I knew it was possible and I just needed to execute well. I felt confident that I could have a strong kick if I stayed calm for the first half of the race. I am so thankful to be chasing these dreams of mine and for all of the support I am receiving while doing so!"
Mackay is the second Binghamton women's athlete ever to advance to the NCAA Division I Track & Field Championships. Keishorea Armstrong qualified in the long jump in both 2015 and 2018.
The third-place finish by Mackay is the highest by a Binghamton athlete at a regional track meet since Rory Quiller won the men's pole vault in 2007.
Also competing for Binghamton on Saturday was junior Aziza Chigatayeva in the women's 3,000 Steeplechase (SC). She raced in the first of three 16-runner heats. Chigatayeva was ninth in her heat and 23rd overall with a time of 10:25.12.
The top three finishers in each of the three 3,000 SC heats plus the next three fastest times advanced to the NCAA Championships. Joyce Kimeli of Auburn won Chigatayeva's heat with a time of 9:50.54. The top overall finisher was Gabrielle Jennings of Furman, who won the third and final heat with a time of 9:40.53.
Chigatayeva made a significant improvement from her first appearance at the NCAA East Region Meet in 2019. She placed 39th overall in that meet. Her 2021 track & field season also included her second straight America East 3,000 SC title as well as a school record of 10:15.85 at the Toledo Rocket Invitational on May 15.
Mackay, meanwhile, continues her season in which she won the America East title in the 1,500 on May 2. She then broke the school record in the 5,000 with a first-place time of 15:48.15 at the Toledo Rocket Invitational. That time was just .57 seconds ahead of the time she ran at the East Regional Meet.
NOTE: Mackay placed 14th overall at the NCAA Cross Country Championships back in March, earning All-America honors from the USTFCCCA for placing among the top 40 runners in the nation.
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May 30, 2021 at 10:33AM
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Mackay Qualifies for NCAA Championships in 5,000 - Binghamton University Athletics
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