June 27, 2009

EUGENE, Oregon -- Miami freshman Rachael Clay just missed a personal best in the 400 Saturday at the USA Track and Field Junior National Championship, but missed advancing to the finals by just over a tenth of a second.

Clay, from Rossford, Ohio, finished 10th in the preliminary round with a time of 55.78 seconds, slightly off her season best of 55.77 seconds at the MAC Championship May 15.

She placed fifth in her heat and nearly placed in the top eight overall, which would have earned her a spot in the final. The eighth-placed runner turned in a time of 55.64 seconds.