LA CROSSE, Wis. – Wellesley College track & field senior Ella Whinney (Madison, Wis.) came in sixth place in the first heat and 12th place overall in the 3000m Steeplechase prelims at the NCAA Division III Championships. The event is taking place at Veteran's Memorial Field Sports Complex and is hosted by the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse.

Whinney has now advanced to the top-12 finals tomorrow night and will compete at 7:00 PM ET.

Whinney held down the sixth spot out of 12 runners from the second lap all the way through the final strides. The senior opened at around an 80 second lap pace early on, before settling into an 85-88 second pace in the latter half. Whinney's 10:36.61 time is the second fastest of her career, and the quickest she's ever been at the NCAA Championships.