June 28, 2008

EUGENE, Ore. - After an impressive showing by fellow Tar Heel Shalane Flanagan in Friday night's 10000-meter run Alice Schmidt continued her quest for an Olympic bid in the 800-meter run on Saturday as she posted the top time in her heat to advance to Monday's final. Schmidt clocked a 2:03.27 in the first heat of the day, improving on her time of 2:03.58 in the quarterfinals. Monique Hennagan will be in action on Sunday as she competes in the 400-meter dash.

Schmidt got out in front of the first heat in an attempt to set the pace for the race and as she led the group past the 250-meter mark Western Michigan's Becky Horn fell taking down a pair of runners with her. Schmidt was able to escape the fall and ran the race nearly by herself as she held on for top spot in the opening heat.

"I heard people go down and I heard the crowd go oh, but I was luckily out of the mess. It was kind of weird running alone, being a spectator on the Jumbotron," Schmidt said after the race. "I was kind of like what happened back there? Should I be concerned? Do I need to back off? Is this an advantage? But then you just need to make sure you are in the top four and going to the next round."

Monique Hennagan will be the lone Tar Heel in action on Sunday as she competes in the opening round of the 400-meter dash.