Just as she had done in every race this season, Marissa Bartello improved upon her school-record time in the 3k steeplechase. In the latest race on May 26, she shaved over 1.5 seconds off her previous PR as she ran a time of 10:42.23 at the NCAA Division II Track & Field Championships in Bradenton, Fla.
Bartello finished 11th in her heat and 17th overall in the race. The freshman was the first Sea Lion to ever run in the NCAA Championships, and the first to compete for an individual title.
Despite her best race of the season, Bartello will not qualify for the finals in the 3k steeplechase. The top two from each heat and the next eight fastest runners will qualify for the finals. The finals will be run on Friday, May 27.
She wraps up her freshman season by shattering the previous school record in the 3k steeplechase by more than 46 seconds.