June 10, 2006

Click here for full 2006 NCAA Outdoor Track & Field results

SACRAMENTO, Calif. -- Michaela Courtney finished fifth overall in the 1,500m run at the 2006 NCAA Outdoor Track & Field Championship this afternoon. Courtney clocked 4:17.60 - the second-best time in MU history - en route to her first All-American honor of her career.

Courtney becomes the first Golden Eagles track athlete to earn NCAA All-American accolades in the 1,500m and it was the highest individual finish ever at a national championship meet. It also marked the second time in as many years that an MU athlete earned such an honor at outdoor nationals. Last year, Brianna Dahm was seventh in the 3,000m steeplechase.

"We're really pleased, considering it was Michaela's first time at outdoors. To take fifth is terrific." said head coach Dave Uhrich. "As well as she ran, Michaela was boxed in for most of the race and wasn't able to break out of it until about 300m to go. She'll learn from that, and next year and beyond, she should be able to get even stronger. Michaela knows that she can compete with the top runners in the country and it is a strong motivator."