May 9, 2008

EUGENE, Ore. - Utah State track athlete Stacie Lifferth-Dorius was the only Aggie competing at the Oregon Twilight meet Friday evening at Oregon's Historic Hayward Field at Eugene, Ore., but she made it a solid performance in the 3,000 meter steeplechase, finishing third with an NCAA regional qualifying time of 10:21.11.

Lifferth-Dorius, a senior from Layton, Utah (Northridge HS), was the top collegiate runner, finishing behind winner Carrie Vickers of Asics (9:51.08) and second-place Lesley Higgins of NYAC (10:12.18). She bettered her previous season-best and Western Athletic Conference-leading time by over three seconds. Lifferth-Dorius' prior best time this year was a 10:24.56 on April 25 at the same track, but due to an improper set up of the steeplechase barriers, her time did not count as an official NCAA regional qualifier.

Friday's time for Lifferth-Dorius is the second-fastest in USU history as well as her personal second-fastest time behind her school record clocking of 10:10.89 run last year.

Lifferth-Dorius is the two-time defending WAC champion in the 3,000 meter steeplechase and she will defend her title at the WAC Championships next Wednesday-Saturday, May 14-17 at Boise, Idaho and hosted by Boise State. The women's steeplechase is scheduled to open the running events on Friday at 2 p.m. (MT).

For more information on next week's WAC Championships, including ticket information, go to www.wacsports.com.