WASHINGTON – On the final day of the 2024 NCAA Outdoor Track & Field East First Rounds, the Georgetown University track & field team saw All-American Melissa Riggins punch her ticket to Eugene for the national championships as well as All-American Chloe Scrimgeour complete the double as she will compete in a pair of events at the NCAA Outdoor Track & Field Championship finals site. Four Hoyas closed out the final day of competition at the University of Kentucky Outdoor Track and Field Facility.

ON THE RECORD
"Another strong day of performances by our Hoyas. Riggins and Scrimgeour ran smart races to ensure they advanced to Eugene in their respective events. Scrimgeour's 5K/10K double is quite an accomplishment; we've not had many women attain that in quite some time here on the Hilltop. I was also very proud of the effort from our women in the steeplechase - senior Mary Hennelly and freshman Barrett Justema. 

"We know more is in store for those heading to the NCAA Championships in two weeks and feel confident they will continue to thrive on the track in what has been an amazing season." - Director of Track & FIeld / Cross Country Alton McKenzie
 
HOW IT HAPPENED

• From the start, Riggins went out and took the lead in the women's 1,500-meter quarterfinal. Competing in the second of a two-heat round, Riggins held the lead through more than 700 meters before Harvard's Maia Ramsden made her move and upped the pace. The All-American held on with the lead pack and coming off the last turn of the bell lap, she surged to secure third place and a spot in the semifinals in Eugene in June with a time of 4:08.90.
• Less than 48 hours after she earned an automatic qualifying time in the women's 10,000-meter semifinals, Scrimgeour came right back to take third in the second of a two-heat semifinal of the women's 5,000-meter run. The All-American clocked 15:30.10 in a fast heat that saw a new facility record just minutes after it was set in the previous heat.
• In the women's 3,000-meter steeplechase quarterfinals, a pair of Hoyas toed the line in Mary Hennelly and Barrett Justema, both competing in their first East first rounds. Justema competed in the second of a three-heat round that saw a new facility record in the event. Justema finished seventh in the heat with a time of 10:30.13, not enough to advance to the semifinals.
• Hennelly stepped up to the line in the final heat that ended up going out at a slower pace through the first half. With a bunched field, Hennelly was staying toward the top seven to eight runners and was in a good position. However, the pace picked up and the pack thinned out with Hennelly on the chase with two laps to go. Running in eighth, Hennelly was able to pick off some runners, eventually finishing sixth in her heat and 18th overall with a time of 10:22.06, falling short of advancing to the next round.

 
OF NOTE

• Scrimgeour becomes the first Hoya since Robert Brandt to compete in a pair of individual events at the NCAA Outdoor Championships. Brandt competed in the 5,000m and 10,000m and earned First Team All-America honors in both events.

 
UP NEXT
The Hoyas will be back in action at the 2024 NCAA Outdoor Track & Field Championships, held June 5-8 in Eugene, Oregon at Hayward Field on the campus of the University of Oregon. On the men's side, All-American Parker Stokes will compete in the men's steeplechase semifinals while freshman Gabriele Angiono will compete in the men's 800-meter semifinals. For the women, All-American Melissa Riggins will compete in the women's 1,500-meter semifinals while All-American Maggie Donahue is in the women's 10,000-meter finals and All-American Chloe Scrimgeour is set to compete in both the women's 5,000- and 10,000-meter finals.