Several members of the 10th-ranked Middlebury women's track and field team competed on the first day of the NCAA Championships. The three-day event is taking place at the SPIRE Institute in Geneva, Ohio.
 
Cassie Kearney highlighted the day as the first competitor on the track for the Panthers. She placed first in the preliminaries of the 1,500-meter with a clocking of 4:27.95. The top-four athletes in each heat advanced to the finals, plus the next best four times in the field of 22. Kearney will compete in the final on Saturday at 12:25 p.m., but will first race in the 800m prelims on Friday at 4:00 p.m. 
 
Kate Kenny and Audrey Grimes made their debuts at the championship event in the 3,000m steeplechase. Kenny recorded a time of 11:19.20 (17th), while Grimes finished in 11:26.88 (20th). 
 
The 4x400m relay quartet of Michelle Louie, Jacqueline Topping, Julia Munz and Ciara Dale capped the night for Middlebury. All four athletes were appearing at the event for the first time in their careers and combined for a time of 3:55.19.