EUGENE, Ore. – Furman senior Gabbi Jennings set a program record and advanced to the finals of the 3,000-meter steeplechase Thursday at the 2021 NCAA Outdoor Track & Field Championships at Heyward Field at the University of Oregon in Eugene, Oregon.
 
A native of Slidell, Louisiana, Jennings posted a time of 9:38.88 to take fifth place in her heat and eighth overall, knocking almost two seconds off her previous school record of 9:40.53, which she recorded to win the event at the East Preliminaries. She is one of 12 individuals who advanced to the finals, which will be held Saturday at 6:24 p.m.
 
An All-American in the event in both 2018 and 2019, Jennings qualified for the East Preliminaries with a time of 9:43.48, an Olympic Trials qualifying time, which she posted at the Drake Relays. Jennings scored a ninth-place finish at the 2019 championship meet.
 
The top eight finishers in each event at the NCAA Championships are deemed first-team All-Americans, with finishers nine through 16 earning second-team All-American accolades. Honorable mention All-American citations are bestowed on athletes who finish in 17th through 24th place.
 
The championships will be broadcast live on ESPNU beginning 6 p.m. on Saturday. A full broadcast schedule can be found at https://www.ncaa.com/championships/trackfield-outdoor/d1/broadcast-info.
 
NCAA Championships (All times noted are Eastern Standard Time)
Thursday
Women’s 3,000m Steeplechase Semifinals - Gabbi Jennings - 8th (9:38.88)
 
Saturday
6:24 p.m. Women’s 3,000m Steeplechase Finals - Gabbi Jennings