EUGENE, Ore. – Furman senior Gabbi Jennings earned first-team All-America honors and set a program record in the 3,000-meter steeplechase finals Saturday 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 finished seventh with a time of 9:38.24, cutting 0.64 seconds off her previous program record of 9:38.88, which she posted in Thursday’s semifinal. A three-time All-American in the event, she has earned the distinction in cross country, indoor, and outdoor track during her Paladin career.
 
Jennings recorded personal bests in each of her last four steeplechase races. She won the East Preliminary in 9:40.53 after qualifying for the preliminaries with a time of 9:43.48, an Olympic Trials qualifying mark, which she posted at the Drake Relays. Jennings scored a ninth-place finish in the event at the 2019 NCAA Championships.
 
She will compete in the steeplechase at the Olympic Trials at Heyward Field in Eugene. The first round is slated for Sunday, June 20, at 9:35 p.m. ET.
 
On Wednesday, senior Ryan Adams earned All-American honorable mention accolades in the 1,500-meter run. A native of Hudson, Ohio, Adams finished 12th in his heat and 20th overall with a time of 3:44.28. He competed in the event at the championships for the third time after placing fourth with a time of 3:38.36 at the NCAA East Preliminaries. He entered the preliminaries ranked fifth in the event after posting a program record of 3:37.66 at the Oregon Twilight Meet. As a junior in 2019, Adams earned All-American accolades with a 16th-place finish at the NCAA Championships. He finished 22nd at the 2017 NCAA Championships to earn All-American honorable mention honors.
 
Adams concluded his collegiate career as one of the most decorated athletes in Furman cross country and track and field history. A six-time All-American, he earned the distinction in cross country, indoors in the mile and 3,000-meter run, and outdoors in the 1,500m on three occasions. A three-time All-Southeast Region selection in cross country, he was honored as the 2019 Southern Conference Cross Country Runner of the Year and as a the 2019 SoCon Men’s Indoor Track Most Outstanding Track Performer. He holds Paladin program records in the 800-meter run, mile, and 3,000m indoors and in the 1,500m outdoors.  
 
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.
 
NCAA Championships (All times noted are Eastern Standard Time)
Wednesday
Men’s 1,500m Semifinals - Ryan Adams - 20th (3:44.28)
 
Thursday
Women’s 3,000m Steeplechase Semifinals - Gabbi Jennings - 8th (9:38.88)
 
Saturday
Women’s 3,000m Steeplechase Finals - Gabbi Jennings - 7th (9:38.24)