PITTSBURG, Kan. -- Isabel Perez-Zoghbi of Cal Poly Humboldt Women's Track & Field concluded the inaugural indoor season for the 'Jacks with a 800m race at the NCAA Division II Indoor Track & Field Championships. Racing from the Robert W. Plaster Center in Pittsburg, Kansas, Perez-Zoghbi was the only Lumberjack to reach the national stage and compete for All-American status.

With the qualifying races being held on Friday, Perez-Zoghbi was one of 17 runners in the 800m, an event that had three heats. In order to advance to the finals on Saturday, a runner would need to finish top-2 in their respective heat or be one of the next two fastest times regardless of what place they finished. Perez-Zoghbi, the only freshman in the event due to it being Humboldt's first season of competition in indoor track, needed a top-8 finish to advance. 

The standout from Merced, Calif., competed in heat one and was placed in lane six. Perez-Zoghbi ran a time of 2:16.31 and finished sixth in her heat. Nationally, Isabel completed her first indoor season ranked 17th in the 800m and was one of only three runners in the West Region to advance to the NCAA Championships for this event. 

See full field of results below:



"Isabel approached today's championship with the same commitment and skill that have characterized her impressive performances to date," said head coach Sarah Ingram. "Though today's outcome wasn't a highlight in her stats, it doesn't define her, her preparedness, or her exceptional talent. We maintain immense pride in all that Isabel has achieved and the dedication she brings to her sport. I am confident that this exceptional young woman has merely scratched the surface of her potential to date. There is a wealth of talent and determination within Isabel that I believe will manifest in extraordinary accomplishments during the upcoming outdoor season and into her future. Her resolve is unyielding, and I trust that she recognizes the depth of our belief in her abilities and our steadfast support. Isabel's journey continues, and we are excited to witness the remarkable feats she is bound to achieve."

After earning USTFCCCA All-West Region honors earlier this week, Perez-Zoghbi will aim to carry her momentum into the outdoor season, which also began on Friday for Cal Poly Humboldt. Last season, Isabel was the only member of the women's team to qualify for the NCAA Outdoor National Championships that were held in Pueblo, Colorado. She qualified in the 400m hurdles and ran a time of 1:02.04, which was good for 19th in the nation as a freshman. Look for Isabel to begin her outdoor campaign at the Pacific Northwest Invite next Saturday, March 16 in Corvalis, Oregon.