JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Freshman distance runner Ruth White (Orono, Maine) of the University of New Hampshire women's track and field team placed sixth in the 10,000 meter run out of 48 athletes at the NCAA East First Round on Thursday night to advance to the NCAA Championships.
By finishing in the top 12, White qualified for the final at Hayward Field in Eugene, Ore., on June 12.
White earned the bid to Eugene in a time of 32:50.17 as she broke her own school record of 32:57.83 which she set in her gold medal winning performance at the America East Championships.
Grace Hartman from NC State won in a facility record time of 32:32.80.
The last time a member of the UNH women's track and field team competed in the NCAA Championships was Elle Purrier St. Pierre in 2018.
White has had a stellar rookie season as she earned the spot in the NCAA East First Round in the 10,000 meter run with her school record and meet record time of 32:57.83 at the America East Championships. She was named the Most Outstanding Rookie at the America East Championships. She previously set the school record with a time of 33:27.57 at the Black & Gold Invitational. White won gold in the 5,000 meter run at the New England Championships with a school record time of 16:22.78. Ruth White and Assistant Coach Alison Duffy
