Northern Illinois track and field freshman Courtney Oldenburg qualified for the NCAA West Region Preliminary round in the 1,500-meter run, head coach Connie Teaberry revealed Monday.
"This is a great step for the program and Courtney is a very deserving athlete," Teaberry said. "When (the NCAA) told me she was a final yes to get into the qualifying round for NCAAs I was excited for her, the program and for Northern Illinois University."
The preliminaries will be held May 27-29 at the University of Texas' Mike A. Myers Stadium. Oldenburg will join Huskie sophomore Megan Gregory, who will compete in the 100-meter hurdles.
Oldenburg's school record time of 4:29.83, set at Drake Relays, stood as a provisional qualifier for the regional. That meant if enough athletes who qualified ahead of her chose not to participate or withdrew due to injury from the 1,500-meter run, she would be in. Teaberry received word Sunday that Oldenburg had officially made the cut.
"Courtney getting there is a testament to her hard work and dedication, and how good an athlete she is," Teaberry said.
Now the focus turns to Austin, where Oldenburg and the Huskies competed there in early April. In that event, Oldenburg helped NIU set a school record in the distance medley relay.
"We've been to Texas before, and she has run on the track," Teaberry said. "That should be a great confidence boost for her."
As a rookie to Division I track and field, Oldenburg's goals from her head coach are straightforward.
"The goal is to remain positive," Teaberry said. "If she remains positive and believes in herself, she will do great."
