Feb. 28, 2011

Albuquerque, NM - Senior Ciara Short finished fifth in the women's 400 meters Sunday at the USA National Indoor Track and Field Championships in Cal State Fullerton record time of 53.34, which might qualify her for the NCAA Championships March 11-12 in Fayetteville, Arkansas.

Short was the only collegiate finalist and her mark is the 15th best in the nation with one week to go in the collegiate indoor season. The top 14 "declared" runners go to the NCAA event.

Short broke her own school mark of 53.80 set a few weeks ago in Flagstaff, Arizona. The event was televised nationally on ESPN.