ByJack Pfiefer // Photo by Ross Dettman

EUGENE, Ore. – More than any other event at this year’s NCAA Championships, the women’s 800 has an Eastern flavor.

In Heat I of Thursday evening’s semifinals, there’s Olivia Baker, the great Stanford freshman who prepped at Columbia HS in Maplewood, NJ. Baker, outstanding competitor of the high school division at the Penn Relays, ran 2:04 this spring.

Heat II includes Olicia Williams and Claudia Francis, two past rivals from their days at the Armory when Williams was running for St. Anthony’s of the CHSAA and Francis for Benjamin Cardozo of the PSAL. Francis is the younger sister of Phyllis Francis, star quartermiler for the Oregon Ducks. After Phyllis graduated from Oregon a year ago, Claudia transferred from Oregon to Florida, for whom she PR’d in 2:02.92 this season. Williams, a junior at Baylor, PR’d in 2:02.26. Francis has also been anchoring the Gators’ 4x4 team.  

In Heat III is yet another Cardozo alum, Sabrina Southerland, 2:04 this year as a sophomore at Georgetown.

The top two finishers from each section and the next two fastest runners will advance to the final, to be held on Saturday afternoon. /JP/