Butler's Victoria Mitchell Leads Field At NCAA National Championship

June 9, 2005

Sacramento, Calif. - Butler senior Victoria Mitchell paced a field of 28 runners in the women's 3,000 meter steeplechase at the 2005 NCAA Division I Outdoor Track and Field Championship in Sacramento, Calif., on Wednesday, June 8. She'll bid for a national title in the event on Friday, June 10.

Mitchell won the first of two qualifying heats in the steeplechase on the first day of the national meet, being hosted by Sacramento State University. Her time of 10:07.02 was more than a second faster than the winning time in the second heat. Just two runners in the field posted a time below 10:08.

Mitchell, who owns the fastest steeplechase time in the NCAA this spring, earned All-America honors in her first trip to the NCAA national meet a year ago. She placed eighth in the steeplechase at last year's championship.

The finals of the women's 3,000 meter steeplechase are slated for 7:05 p.m. (PDT) on Friday.