March 8, 2008

SOUTH BEND, Ind. ---- Junior mid-distance runner, Alina Varpiotaite, provisionally qualified for the NCAA National Indoor Track and Field Championship in the 800-meter run Saturday at the Alex Wilson Invitational hosted by Notre Dame.

Varpiotaite ran a 2:07.58 in the event and finished in eighth place. The junior mid-distance was 1.42 seconds under the provisional qualifying time of 2:09.00 entering the meet.

She improved upon her season best time of 2:09.73 that she recorded at the C-USA Championship, Feb. 29 - March 1.

The Blazers have three athletes who have provisionally qualified for the national meet March 14-15 in Fayetteville, Ark.