EMPORIA, Kansas –
Hannah Chang's first trip to the NCAA Division II national track and field championships was a short one. But she still has another two seasons' worth of opportunities in front of her to get back onto the big stage again.
Hannah Chang
The Seattle Pacific sophomore placed 16th in the 100-meter hurdles preliminaries on Friday afternoon at Welch Stadium on the Emporia State University campus. Chang clocked 14.25 seconds in the first of the three preliminary heats.
"It was such an amazing experience, being here and being able run under the lights with all of these fast women," Chang said. "It's something I'll never forget."
As expected,, Minnesota State senior Denisha Cartwright posted the top time in the prelims, winning her heat in 13.01. The next-fastest time was 13.45 by Heat 1 winner Nicole Warwick of Azusa Pacific. Cartwright came in with the top entry time of 12.60.
Chang earned her first NCAA ticket two weeks ago at the Great Northwest Athletic Conference Championships in Ellensburg when she won the title in a personal-best time of 13.88 seconds – her first-ever sub-14 and also her first NCAA provisional qualifying time. That ultimately got her to Emporia as the No. 20 seed, making her the first SPU hurdler to make the nationals since Maliea Luquin in 2016.
Along with her conference hurdles gold, Chang won the bronze in the heptathlon. She said her plan it to keep focusing on both the hurdles and the multis heading into the 2025 season.
"I think the multis do benefit me in the hurdles just with overall strength," she said. "I love doing both, so I think that's what I'm going to continue to do."
UP NEXT
The final NCAA event for the Falcons will be Saturday when
Annika Esvelt races in the 5000 meters at 3:25 p.m. Pacific time. On Thursday, Esvelt ran to the silver medal in the 10,000.
NCAA WOMEN'S TRACK & FIELD
NCAA Division II Championships
Friday, May 24, 2024
Welch Stadium / Emporia, Kansas
PRELIMINARIES
100-meter hurdles – 1, Denisha Cartwright (Minnesota St.) 13.01.
SPU – 16,
Hannah Chang 14.25.
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