TRK | Gordon Makes History, Qualifies for NCAA West First Round
5/18/2023 10:00:00 AM | Men's Track and Field
SACRAMENTO, Calif. — In what has been a record-breaking first season at the collegiate level, Penelopea Gordon is not done making history. The Rochester, Minnesota native became the first freshman Gael in program history to qualify for the NCAA West First Round, doing so in the 800m.
Gordon's stock has been on the rise since early in the season, when she finished seventh overall in the 600m at the UW Preview indoor meet on January 14. Since then, her times keep dropping, and her finishes keep improving. She first ran the 800m as a Gael at the Mike Fanelli Classic and posted a time of 2:17.32. Over her last three attempts, however, she has shaved over 10 seconds off that time, culminating in a 2:07.27 at the Portland Distance Carnival last weekend. That time is the second-fastest 800m time in Saint Mary's history, and she finished third in the event behind an Olympic bronze medalist and an All-American.
"In the recruiting process we knew that Penelopea had tremendous upside," recalls head coach Marty Kinsey. "Upon her arrival at Saint Mary's she has been nothing but a hard worker with a positive attitude. She started to really rise to her potential the last few weeks and it ended up resulting in the situation that we are in now, an opportunity for her to compete at the NCAA championships."
In just one season with Saint Mary's, Gordon has shaved off six seconds from her high school personal-best in the 800m. This improvement has helped land her inside the top-20 for fastest freshman in the entire country.
Saint Mary's continues to be well-represented at the NCAA Championship, with 2023 being the sixth year since 2016 that the Gaels have had either a cross country or track runner qualify for an NCAA event. The last two years on the track side, Rayna Stanziano has represented Saint Mary's, including 2022 where she qualified in the 1500m and 5000m.
Gordon's stock has been on the rise since early in the season, when she finished seventh overall in the 600m at the UW Preview indoor meet on January 14. Since then, her times keep dropping, and her finishes keep improving. She first ran the 800m as a Gael at the Mike Fanelli Classic and posted a time of 2:17.32. Over her last three attempts, however, she has shaved over 10 seconds off that time, culminating in a 2:07.27 at the Portland Distance Carnival last weekend. That time is the second-fastest 800m time in Saint Mary's history, and she finished third in the event behind an Olympic bronze medalist and an All-American.
"In the recruiting process we knew that Penelopea had tremendous upside," recalls head coach Marty Kinsey. "Upon her arrival at Saint Mary's she has been nothing but a hard worker with a positive attitude. She started to really rise to her potential the last few weeks and it ended up resulting in the situation that we are in now, an opportunity for her to compete at the NCAA championships."
In just one season with Saint Mary's, Gordon has shaved off six seconds from her high school personal-best in the 800m. This improvement has helped land her inside the top-20 for fastest freshman in the entire country.
Saint Mary's continues to be well-represented at the NCAA Championship, with 2023 being the sixth year since 2016 that the Gaels have had either a cross country or track runner qualify for an NCAA event. The last two years on the track side, Rayna Stanziano has represented Saint Mary's, including 2022 where she qualified in the 1500m and 5000m.
HISTORY MADE!!!
— Saint Mary's Cross Country/Track (@SMC_XCTrack) May 18, 2023
Penelopea Gordon becomes the first SMC freshman to qualify for the NCAA First Round! She'll be running the 800m in Sacramento on May 25! #GaelsRise
Full story ⬇️https://t.co/ForRr4vrxb pic.twitter.com/qOchBITCoW
The first round of the 800m at the NCAA West First Round is broken into six heats, each with eight runners. The top three from each heat will advance to Saturday's quarterfinals, as well as the top-six times from those who are not inside a top-three within a heat. From there, the top-three from each quarterfinal will advance to the NCAA Championship in Austin, Texas, as well as the top-three times from those not within a top-three in a heat.
#GaelsRise
Players Mentioned
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