June 7, 2006

WASHINGTON - In the final NCAA Championships of her illustrious career, senior distance running standout Keira Carlstrom (Oakton,Va./Oakton) races at the NCAA Championships in the women's 5000 meter qualifying heats Wednesday night. To qualify for Friday night's final she'll have to finish in the top six in her heat or have one of the next four fastest times out of both heats.

In her second straight outdoor NCAA Championships appearance, Carlstrom appears poised to better her 16th place finish from 2005. Carlstrom went undefeated and unpushed throughout the outdoor season, winning every race she entered except one until the NCAA East Regional where she finished ninth and earned an at-large berth into this meet. While making the final is the main goal for tonight, depending on the pace and tactics of the race, the school record of 16:20 by former AU All-American Samia Akbar could also be within reach. The 23-time All Patriot League selection's career best (from 2005) is just three seconds off that mark.

The women's 5000 meter heats begin at 7:50 p.m. WST. Live results should be posted here or through NCAASports.com.

Check back tonight with AUEagles.com for full results and recap.