Ellingson qualifies for finals in the Mile

COLUMBUS, Ohio - Catie Ellingson posted the second-fasted qualifying time in the preliminaries of the Mile run at the 2011 NCAA Indoor Track & Field Championship on Friday.

Entering the meet with the nation's second-fastest time, Ellingson ran a 4.57.28 on Friday. She placed second in the first heat, automatically advancing to Saturday's final.

Christy Cazzola of UW-Oshkosh turned in the fastest qualifying time, edging Ellingson with a Capital Center record 4:56.25.

Of the 15 national qualifiers, 10 advance to the finals. The top three finishers from each heat move on, followed by the next four fastest times.

Ellingson will be in lane one for Saturday's final, which is set to begin at 4:45 p.m. EST.

For links to Live Results and Live Video, visit http://www.capitalcrusaders.net/.

Preliminary Results
Round 1, Heat 1
    1 Christy Cazzola, So, Wisconsin Oshkosh          4:56.25Q          
    2 Catie Ellingson, Sr, Simpson (Iowa)              4:57.28Q          
    3 Claire Roberts, Sr, Wisconsin Stevens Pt          4:58.06Q         
    4 Melissa Sullivan, Jr, Amherst College                 4:58.44q         
    5 Sheena Crawley, So, Franklin & Marshall          4:58.56q         
    6 Maeve Evans, Jr, New York University               5:01.02          
    7 Heather Waterman, Sr, Franklin College           5:07.51          
    8 Simone Childs-Walker, Jr, Carleton College       5:09.64          

Round 1, Heat 2
    1 Randelle Boots, So, Wellesley College             4:58.97Q         
    2 Grayce Selig, Sr, Brandeis University               4:59.56Q         
    3 Amy Knoblock, Sr, Keene State College           5:00.12Q         
    4 Tonya Turner, Sr, Whitworth University           5:00.35q         
    5 Kimberly Chinn, Jr, Baldwin-Wallace                 5:00.36q         
    6 Kate Leugers, Sr, Ithaca College                     5:00.66          
    7 Amy Wilfert, Sr, Tufts University                       5:00.85

Final Lane Assignments                                                       
Lane Name                         Team                         Time
    1 Catie Ellingson, Sr     Simpson (Iowa)           4:57.28
    2 Grayce Selig, Sr         Brandeis University      4:59.56
    3 Christy Cazzola, So   Wisconsin Oshkosh      4:56.25
    4 Kimberly Chinn, Jr      Baldwin-Wallace          5:00.36
    5 Amy Knoblock, Sr       Keene State College    5:00.12
    6 Randelle Boots, So    Wellesley College        4:58.97
    7 Melissa Sullivan, Jr    Amherst College           4:58.44
    8 Tonya Turner, Sr        Whitworth University   5:00.35
    9 Sheena Crawley, So  Franklin & Marshall       4:58.56
   10 Claire Roberts, Sr     Wisconsin Stevens Pt   4:58.06