EUGENE, Ore. – Four Notre Dame women got their 2021 Outdoor NCAA Championships underway on Thursday at the University of Oregon’s Hayward Field, competing in three different events.
Olivia Markezich’s performance in the 3,000m steeplechase was the highlight of the day for the Irish. The sophomore qualified for Saturday’s final by finishing 12th overall with a time of 9:42.41. The time was not only a PR for Markezich but also the Notre Dame program record, eclipsing the record she set at the NCAA East Regionals last month by more than three seconds.
Markezich will race in the steeplechase final at 6:24 p.m. ET on Saturday, June 12. The event will air on ESPNU.
Joining Markezich in the steeplechase was teammate Lauren Sapone, who finished 23rd with a time of 10:23.94, earning All-America Honorable Mention status.
Earlier in the day Rachel Tanczos competed in the hammer throw for the Irish. The senior finished 17th overall with a throw of 65.03. The finish gives Tanczos All-America Honorable Mention accolades.
Katie Rose Blachowicz closed out the day for the Irish with the 10,000m final. The sophomore finished 23rd in the event with a time of 34:42.50 to earn All-America Honorable Mention honors.
The Irish have a busy day on Friday. The day gets started at 3 p.m. ET with the first of two days of the heptathlon for freshman Jadin O’Brien and then features the much anticipated 1,500m final with Notre Dame’s Yared Nuguse trying to defend the 2019 NCAA Championship title at 8:11 p.m. ET.
The Irish cap off day three of the championships with Dylan Jacobs competing in the 5,000m final at 9:55 p.m. All of the action can be watched live on ESPN3 with primetime live coverage starting at 8 p.m. ET on ESPN2.
NCAA CHAMPIONSHIPS – DAY 2
Eugene, Oregon
Hayward Field
June 10, 2021
WOMEN
3,00m Steeplechase Prelims
12 – Olivia Markezich (PR: 9:42.41 – Advances to Championship Final)
23 – Laura Sapone (10:23.94 – All-American Honorable Mention)
10,000m Final
23 – Katie Rose Blachowicz (34:42.50 – All-American Honorable Mention)
Hammer Throw
17 – Rachel Tanczos (65.03m – All-America Honorable Mention)