VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. — Stan State's Annie Wild advanced to the NCAA Division II Indoor Track & Field Championships mile final while the Warriors' distance medley relay earned USTFCCCA Second Team All-America honors Friday at the Virginia Beach Sports Center.

"What an effort given tonight to come in 12th and improve to ninth in the country, becoming Second Team All-Americans," said Troy Johnson, head coach of Stan State women's indoor and men's and women's outdoor track & field. "W e are grateful for the opportunity to prove we are one of the best schools in Division II. We came up one spot short of our goal, but that doesn't define these ladies. The heart and determination they give to each other will fuel them for future opportunities. Very proud of this group and our coaches. We are a little disappointed but not defeated. We have tomorrow — we rise together."


Wild, the defending NCAA Division II champion in the mile, won her preliminary heat with a time of 4:46.84, the fastest time across both heats, to automatically qualify for Saturday's national final scheduled for 1:50 p.m. PT. The junior stayed near the front throughout the race before taking control late, closing with a 32.70 final lap to secure the heat victory and advance to the championship race. Wild now looks to become a two-time NCAA Division II national champion in the event.

The Warriors capped the day in the meet's final event with a ninth-place finish in the distance medley relay. The quartet of Izzy Soto, Mila Real, Crystal Hernandez and Wild posted a time of 11:42.25 to earn USTFCCCA Second Team All-America honors.

Soto opened the relay with a 3:31.90 1200-meter leg before Real ran 55.55 in the 400 meters to move the Warriors into sixth at the exchange. Hernandez followed with a 2:18.20 split in the 800 meters before Wild anchored the mile in 4:56.60.

By placing ninth overall, the Warriors earned Second Team All-America recognition, which is awarded to finishers 9-12 at the NCAA Division II Championships.

CSU Pueblo captured the national title in the event with a time of 11:08.20.

Stan State will return to action Saturday as Wild competes in the mile final at 1:50 p.m. PT looking to defend her national title, followed by Alexis Nino in the women's shot put at 2:15 p.m. PT.