MORAGA, Calif. – After a stellar first year on the track, freshman Penelopea Gordon heads to Sacramento State for the NCAA First Round. Gordon will run in her trademark event, the 800m.
 
This is the first time a SMC freshman has qualified for the NCAA First Round, and she'll look to keep her fantastic season going when she takes the track Thursday evening. 
 
THE DETAILS
NCAA First Round
May 24 – May 27 
Hornet Stadium – Sacramento, Calif. 
Watch | Results
 
LAST TIME OUT  
Gordon has been on a tear all season long, setting personal bests seemingly every time she touches the track. 
 
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 kept dropping, and her finishes kept 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 two weeks ago. 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 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.
 
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.