To wrap up an outstanding year, Notre Dame will head to Fayetteville, Ark. this weekend for the NCAA Indoor Track and Field championships. After three-peats by the Florida men's team and the Oregon women's team, Notre Dame will try to break out as an underdog and get their first indoor track and field championship.
Over the past month, the Notre Dame women's team has been great, winning the Big East championships and even setting three school records in the 60-meter hurdles, mile, and 4x400-meter relay at last weekend's Alex Wilson Invitational. After these two strong showings, the Irish girls have cracked the top 25, coming in at 17 this week.
Not to be outdone, the Irish men have also had strong showings, as they finished second in the Big East championships. Sophomore Chris Geisting had an especially strong meet at the Notre Dame-hosted Alex Wilson Invitational, as he set a school record of his own in the men's 400-meter.
In Fayetteville, Giesting will be one of several Irish stars competing. Junior Parick Feeny will be competing alongside Giesting. Like Giesting, Feeney will face off in a field of 16 for the men's 400-meter championship.
Only Florida and Pittsburgh have two runners in this event, with each of their slower runners turning in slower times than both Giesting and Feeney, who have run the event in 46.05 and 46.12 seconds, or sixth and ninth in the field, respectively.
For the women, senior Rebecca Tracy will look to build on her school record of 4:33.53 in the mile, which ranks sixth nationally. Sophomore Jade Barber also won her event last week, finishing the 60-meter hurdles in only 8.13 seconds, for another school record.
In addition to those runners, women's teams for the 4x400-meter relay and the women distance medley will run. In the distance medley, look out for sisters, junior Alexa and freshman Danielle Aragon, who are part of a fifth-ranked team for the event.
The NCAA Indoor Track and Field championships will take place this Friday and Saturday, March 8 and 9, in Fayetteville, Ark.
Contact Cole Schietinger at cschieti@nd.edu
