AUSTIN, Tx. --- The Portland Pilots men's and women's track and field teams concluded the first day of the NCAA West Preliminary at the Mike A. Myers Stadium with juniors Taryn Rawlings and Jeff Thies qualifying for the 1500m semi-finals on Saturday. Senior Grace McConnochie also punched her ticket to Eugene with a ninth place finish in the women's 10,000m.
Thies ran an impressive race to finish first overall to enter Saturday's semi-finals as the top runner in the 1500m.
"He looked great and he reported that he felt great," said men's head coach Rob Conner. "What I was most impressed with was his perfect tactical effort and he confidence he showed executing the plan!