Results

EUGENE, Ore. - Erika Barr knew she would likely need a career-best effort during Thursday's semifinal steeplechase race at the NCAA Outdoor Track and Field Championships at the University of Oregon if she hoped to advance, and that's exactly what the UC Davis standout got when she posted a PR in the 3,000-meter event to qualify for Saturday's national championship on ESPN.

Barr, ranked second all-time at UC Davis in the event, finished sixth in the steeplechase's second heat, crossing in 10 minutes, 1.60 seconds and smashing her previous best of 10:08.63 set at this year's Stanford Invitational. The top five finishers in each 12-competitor semifinal advanced to Saturday's final while Barr was one of two additional runners to move on based on having the next fastest times overall.

She entered the race ranked 21st, based on times from the NCAA Prelim Meets.

The two-time defending Big West champion was in 12th the first time the racers crossed the finish line and stayed near the back of the pack the next four times they went by. But Barr made her move with three laps to go, jumping into seventh and then eventually into sixth on the bell lap.

New Hampshire's Elinor Purrier, who led throughout the second half of the race, won the heat in 9:54.91. Jessica Kamilos (9:55.35) of Arkansas, Paige Kouba (9:57.59), Devin Clark (9:58.26) of Arkansas and Ingeborg Loevnes (9:59.13) of Oklahoma State earned the five automatic berths from Barr's heat.

Saturday's final will be held at 3:54 p.m. at historic Hayward Field and will be aired on ESPN.

NCAA OUTDOOR TRACK AND FIELD CHAMPIONSHIPS
Eugene, Ore. (hosted by Univ of Oregon)
Day 2 of 4
UC Davis results only

WOMEN
Steeplechase (semifinals) - 1. Elinor Purrier, New Hampshire, 9:54.91... 12. Erika Barr, 10:01.60.