JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – The Eastern Kentucky University women's track and field team had a record setting final day at the NCAA East First Round on Saturday, as Bahiya El Arfaoui and Edna Chelulei set new program records while punching their ticket to the NCAA Outdoor Track & Field National Championships in the 1,500m and 5,000m respectively.
 
El Arfaoui started things for the Colonels in the 1,500m, finishing second in a historic heat as she ran a time of 4:05.20, the fifth fastest 1,500m time in NCAA history, breaking her own program record in the event by over two seconds.
 
Chelulei then closed the night claiming her second spot at nationals with a fourth-place finish in her heat in a time of 15:30.56, shattering her own EKU record by over 13 seconds.
 
The freshman from Kenya will now prepare to compete in both the 10,000m and 5,000m in Eugene after finishing in seventh in the 10,000m semifinals on Thursday, she will be the first woman in EKU history to compete in both at nationals in program history.
 
In the 3,000m steeplechase, Karin Gosek ended her season with a 10^th place finish in her quarterfinal heat, with a time of 10:19.57, while Khadija Ennasri did not finish.
 
Arfaoui and Chelulei will now travel with fellow Colonel, Kristian Imroth to Eugene, Oregon and historic Hayward Field for the NCAA Outdoor Track & Field National Championships beginning on Wednesday, June 11.