Liberty University
Virginia Tech Challenge
Bushman Notches ECAC Qualifier with 17:21 5K
2/19/2011 12:00:00 AM | Track and Field
Looking to qualify for the ECAC Division I Indoor Track & Field Championships on Saturday, Liberty senior Dacia Bushman did just that. She clocked a personal-best 17:21.15 in the women's 5K, while taking second place at the Virginia Tech Challenge inside Rector Fieldhouse.
Bushman had set her previous 5K personal best of 17:37.42 two weeks ago at Penn State. She shaved 16 seconds off of that time Saturday, crossing the finish line well under the ECAC standard of 17:33.64.
Bushman trailed only unattached athlete Darcy McDonald's 17:06.11 clocking in the field of 18 competitors. The Iowa native also moved up to No. 6 in Liberty program history for the indoor women's 5K with her performance on Saturday.
Liberty will return to action Thursday, when the 2011 Big South Indoor Track & Field Championships get underway in Clemson, S.C. The meet will get started Thursday at 10 a.m., with the first event of the women's pentathlon, the 60-meter hurdles.
