Official NCAA Indoor Release

PORTLAND, Ore. --- Seniors Lauren LaRocco and Taryn Rawlings have both qualified to compete at the 2019 NCAA Indoor Track a Field Championships. LaRocco qualified for the 5000m with the ninth best time in her field (15:33.20), while Rawlings secured the 14^th spot in the mile preliminary race (4:36.00). This is the first time in UP History that the women's track and field team will send two Pilots to compete at the Championships.
 
"I am really proud of Lauren and Taryn for their commitment to qualifying for the NCAA Indoor Championships," said head coach Ian Solof. "This was the fastest qualifying year ever in the distance races so just getting in took unbelievable times. We are excited for next weekend and I think this will be a great stepping stone to the outdoor season."
 
LaRocco posted her 5000m qualifying time in her first indoor race of the 2018-2019 season at the Boston Sharon Colyear-Danville Season Opener in December. The Pilot had just come off of an incredible 2018 XC season, recording the best finish for women's individual with a 13^th place finish at nationals and garnering her sixth overall All-American honor of her collegiate career.
 
Rawlings finished 4:36.00 on the second day of the UW Invite, breaking her previous UP Indoor mile record by almost four seconds. The senior also entered the indoor season after an incredible fall cross country season and spring track and field season in 2018. She garnered her first collegiate All-American honor in the 1500m at the 2018 NCAA Outdoor Track and Field Championships, finishing 6^th overall before claiming her second collegiate All-American honor at the 2019 NCAA XC Championships, crossing the line in 26^th place.
 
The championships, hosted by the University of Alabama at Birmingham and the City of Birmingham, will be held March 8 and 9 at the Birmingham CrossPlex in Birmingham, Alabama.
 
ESPN3 will stream the championships live starting at 6:30 p.m. Eastern time March 8 and starting at 5 p.m. Eastern time March 9. A re-air of the championship will take place starting at 10 p.m. Eastern time Sunday, March 10 on ESPN2 and again Monday, March 11 starting at 10 p.m. Eastern time on ESPNU.