LEXINGTON, Ky. – Eastern Kentucky University's Edna Chelulei and Brighter Jepchumba qualified for the NCAA Outdoor Championships in the women's 5,000 meters on the final day of action at the NCAA East First Rounds on Saturday.
 
Chelulei and Jepchumba advanced out of the same heat of the 5,000 meters. Chelulei finished second in the heat with a time of 15:29.37. Jepchumba took fifth in the heat in a time of 15:42.38. The top five finishers from each heat automatically advanced to the NCAA Outdoor Championships, which will be held June 10-13 at Hayward Field in Eugene, Oregon.
 
This is Chelulei's second consecutive year advancing to the NCAA Outdoor Championships. She competed in both the 5,000 meters and 10,000 meters in Eugene last year.
 
Jepchumba – a freshman – will be making her first trip to Eugene. She will run the 5K / 10K double at Hayward Field this year. Jepchumba qualified in the 10,000 meters on Thursday night, finishing eighth overall in the field at the NCAA East First Rounds.
 
Five Colonels punched tickets to the NCAA Outdoor Championships this weekend – Jepchumba (women's 5,000 meters and 10,000 meters), Chelulei (women's 5,000 meters), Taha Er Raouy (men's 5,000 meters), Kristian Imroth (men's 3,000-meter steeplechase), and Miguel Baidal (men's 10,000 meters).