FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – Illinois State senior Macee Rivers punched her ticket to the NCAA Track & Field Championships in Eugene, Ore., after posting a school-record time of 13.02 in the 100-meter hurdles on Saturday evening at the NCAA West Preliminary Round.
The performance secured the first national championship berth of her career and solidified her place in Illinois State track and field history.
"It means a lot," said Rivers. "I'm giving all the glory to God. None of this would be possible without Him. I've overcame so much this season, and to be able to say that I've qualified for my very first national meet is both a blessing and an honor!"
Rivers automatically qualified for nationals by finishing in the top three of her heat. She also posted the 10th-fastest time overall among the 24 West competitors vying for a spot in Eugene.
"Macee had a clutch performance to earn the auto qualifier and shatter the school record out of the inside lane," said Director of Track and Field Jeff Bovee. "Well deserved for Macee!"
Two other Redbirds competed in the NCAA West Quarterfinals of their respective events on Saturday.
Mattison Plummer concluded her Redbird career with a 36th-place finish in the 3,000-meter steeplechase, crossing the line in 10:50.78. Her senior season was highlighted by two conference championships, as she captured the 3,000-meter steeplechase title at the Missouri Valley Conference Outdoor Championships and won the 5,000-meter crown during the indoor season.
Plummer leaves Illinois State as one of the program's most accomplished distance runners. She ranks fourth in outdoor school history in the 3,000-meter steeplechase, fifth in the 1,500-meter run and sixth in the 5,000-meter run. Indoors, she stands second all-time in the 1,000-meter run, third in the 5,000-meter run and fourth in the 3,000-meter run.
Pauline Schedler closed her impressive freshman season with a 19th-place finish in the 1500-meter run with a time of 4:17.93.
UP NEXT
Rivers will continue her standout season on the national stage as she competes against the country's top hurdlers at the NCAA Championships from June 10-13.
The list of qualifiers from each event contested in the first rounds will be announced by 5 p.m. ET on Sunday, May 31. The final list of the championship competition participants will be announced by 3 p.m. ET on Tuesday, June 2.
