FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — Competing in the NCAA West Prelims for the second year in a row, Rayna Stanziano put some of her demons from 2021 to rest on Thursday afternoon. Stanziano was the fifth-fastest runner in the third heat of the 1500m on Thursday, earning an automatic qualifying spot to the second round of the 1500m, to be held on Saturday.
After failing to advance to the second round last season, Stanziano ran a more efficient race this time around, where she saved her best stuff for the ending. After 300m, Stanziano found herself in tenth place, clearly saving some gas in the tank for the final few hundred meters.