Bruins Turn in Strong Performances at NCAA Outdoor Championships East Prelims Thursday

LEXINGTON, Ky. – Battling thunderstorms and lighting delays throughout the morning hours and evening, the Belmont University women's track and field team completed its opening day at the 2024 NCAA Outdoor Track and Field Championships East First Round Thursday. Four Bruins closed out their spring campaigns on the campus of the University of Kentucky in Lexington, Kentucky, with national postseason performances from juniors Rebekah Stucker, Logan Gray, and Kaitlyn Vanderkolk and graduate student Madelyn Quinn.
 
Gray turned in the most impressive finish of the day, nearly qualifying for the coveted NCAA Outdoor Championships finals in Eugene, Oregon, in the shot put. The Spartanburg, South Carolina (Spartanburg HS), native cleared 16 meters for just the second time in her career, placing 15th with a throw of 52 feet, 10.25 inches (16.11m) on her third attempt. Her final toss was just over a foot short of her school record mark.
 
The top 12 finishers in each event at the NCAA Outdoor East Preliminary meet at the Kentucky Outdoor Track & Field Facility advance to the finals of the NCAA Outdoor Championships in June.
 
Stucker began the day in the hammer throw following a delayed start and finished 39th. Making her NCAA Outdoor Championships prelims debut, the Odessa, Missouri (Odessa HS), native notched a mark of 177 feet, 11 inches (54.23m) on her third throw.
 
Quinn put a bow on her decorated Belmont career, finishing 32nd in her third NCAA Outdoor Championships East First Round javelin competition. A native of Bible Hill, Nova Scotia, Canada, Quinn threw for 143 feet, 8 inches (43.79m) on her second attempt.
 
After an over four-and-a-half-hour delay due to evening thunderstorms, Vanderkolk took to the track for the 10000m race at 10:45 p.m. local time. In the pouring rain, the Brentwood, Tennessee (Brentwood HS), native recorded her second-fastest 10000m time. Vanderkolk finished in 34:18.45 for 39th place.
 
Graduate Tyra Finkeldey will be in action Friday morning in the pole vault starting at 9 a.m. CT/10 a.m. ET. The pole vault was originally scheduled for Thursday evening but had to be rescheduled twice due to the inclement weather.
 
Stucker will close out the Bruins' showing at the NCAA Outdoor Championships East First Round in the Bluegrass State Saturday with the discus at 12 p.m. CT/1 p.m. ET.
 
The NCAA Outdoor Championships East Preliminary is being broadcast on ESPN+ and live results can be found at BelmontBruins.com.
 
How to Follow
Follow Belmont women's track and field on social media - @BelmontXCTF on X, formerly Twitter, @belmontxctf and @belmontthrows on Instagram, and @BUXCTF on Facebook - for complete coverage of the Bruins. Stay up to date with all of Belmont's athletic programs via the official app of the Belmont Bruins, available both in the Apple App Store and on Google Play.