Bates senior Elizabeth "Bud" Arens competed in her third NCAA Track & Field Championship meet last weekend, finishing ninth in Division III in the indoor 800-meter run.
The one-time All-American posted the ninth fastest time among 15 competitors overall in Friday's preliminary heats, missing Saturday’s final, and a second All-America honor, by only one place.
“Bud raced well; I’m proud of her,” said head coach Jay Hartshorn. “She held off two runners to give herself a chance [to make the final].”
Arens started out aggressively and led the race at the 200-meter mark. She faded back slightly as heat winner Tara Clemens of Illinois Wesleyan opened up a big lead and Arens was passed by Emily Warner of Washington University and Brittany Nordland of Wisconsin-River Falls, but down the stretch Arens held off Wartburg runners Kristin Canning and Taylor Moore and leaned into the finish line at 2:15.07, .08 ahead of Moore and .13 ahead of Canning.
The second heat proved faster than the first, putting five into Saturday’s eight-person final. Samantha Bennett of Wheaton (Mass.) earned the eighth spot by finishing the second heat in 2:14.41.
Arens will go for four NCAA appearances in a row in the upcoming outdoor season. She competed in the mile at last year's outdoor nationals.
