BLOOMINGTON, Ind. -- Two members of the Yale women's track and field team participated in quarterfinals at the NCAA East Preliminary Round Saturday: senior Kayley DeLay in the steeplechase and senior Samantha Friborg in the 800m run. Additionally, Emma Vasen competed in the first round of the discus.

DeLay put on a brilliant performance of both talent and grit in the steeplechase to secure a trip to the NCAA Championships while breaking her own school record in the process. DeLay led her heat for the majority of the race before being passed on the last lap; however, when it mattered most, DeLay displayed her top-end speed with a masterful kick past Notre Dame's Olivia Markezich to win her heat and secure the automatic qualifier with a time of 9:41.56.

DeLay has already participated in the NCAA Cross Country and Indoor Track and Field Championships, earning All-American honors in both. DeLay's consistency has been remarkable to watch, and Yale fans everywhere would love to see her take home the gold in Eugene. 

Friborg's 800m performance will leave her only a couple of seconds away from a trip to Eugene. Although she will not advance, her time of 2:06.18 Saturday and her time of 2:05.10 on Thursday would both put her among the top three in school history; ultimately, her time of 2:04.64 at the Princeton Elite Invitational two weeks ago remains her personal best and places her second on Yale's all-time list behind only Olympian Kate Grace '11 (2:03.41). That gives her something to aim for in her final year as a Bulldog next season.

Vasen finished 13th in her flight and 41st overall with a mark of 44.90m. This brings her Yale career to and end, part of a memorable spring that also included earning second team All-Ivy and All-NEICAAA in the discus and setting the school record in the hammer throw.

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