AUSTIN, Texas – Northern Illinois University track & field senior Hope Schmelzle (Wheaton, Ill./Wheaton Warrenville South) took third in the NCAA West Region Preliminary in the 3,000-meter steeplechase that earned her a spot at the NCAA Championship in Eugene, Oregon in two weeks.
 
Schmelzle ran the steeplechase in 10:04.37 to tail Allie Ostrander from Boise State and Grayson Murphy of Utah.
 
"Hope executed perfectly tonight to secure her advancement to the NCAA National Championships running a close second in her heat to Allie who was 6th at the Olympic trials," said NIU distance coach Adrian Myers. "Hope is, again, showing everyone that you can come to Northern Illinois and compete amongst the nation's elite. We're not done, and we've got big expectations for Eugene. Hope is ready."
 
Her work and dedication has paid off this year as Schmelzle recorded her second fastest steeplechase time since she has been at Northern. She set the school record at 10:04.17 in March at the Drake Relays.
 
Schmelzle also holds the school's outdoor 1,500-meter run as well as the indoor 800-meter and mile records. She set her 800-meter school record and mile school record this season in February and the GVSU Big Meet and Alex Wilson Invitational.
 
Along with all of her success on the track, Schmelzle has also been recognized for her accomplishments in the classroom. She was recently named to the College Sports Information Directors of America Academic All-District team to accompany the Mid-American Conference's maximum number of Scholar Athlete of the Week awards, having earned two.
 
While Schmelzle prepares for the Championship, her Huskie teammates continue to compete at the Regional on Saturday.
 
-NIU-