First-year sprinter Gianna Phipps of the Case Western Reserve University women's track and field team qualified for the national 400-meter dash finals based on her performance on the second day of the 2026 NCAA Division III Women's Outdoor Track and Field Championships at Veterans Memorial Field Sports Complex in La Crosse, Wisconsin, on Friday evening

Phipps, competing in the first of three heats, finished in 55.43 seconds, placing third in her heat. Her time ranked sixth among the student-athletes who did not win their heats, qualifying her for the final on Saturday.

Entering Friday, Phipps was seeded seventh in the 22-runner field with a school-record time of 54.82 seconds from the 2026 University Athletic Association Outdoor Track and Field Championships. She is the only first-year student-athlete to advance to the final of the event this season.

With her top-16 finish, Phipps guaranteed herself at least All-America Second Team honors during her first season of collegiate competition. If she places in the top eight on Saturday, she will received All-America First Team honors.

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The finals of the 400-meter dash are scheduled for 3:10 p.m. ET on Saturday, May 23. Phipps will run in lane 1.