June 9, 2011
DES MOINES, Iowa – In the final race of her senior season, Leslie Njoku finished with a school record time of 57.14 in the 400 meter hurdles. A career best for the Jersey City, N.J. native, Njoku crossed the line in 14th place, not enough to move her on to the final round of the race.
The 14th place finish gave Njoku the title of USTFCCCA Second Team All-American.
Njoku, who started off her season as one of the first athletes to notch a sub-1:00 time in the 400-hurdles, overcame a slight injury and finished her season with a bang improving upon her career best time every time she stepped foot on the track.
Njoku entered the NCAA East Regional ranked 11th in the east among the women’s 400-meter runners. On day one of the meet she earned a spot in the quarterfinals and then moved onto the NCAA Championship with a then-career best time of 57.38.
The semifinal race was won by Ti’erra Brown of Miami who sprinted to a time of 55.59 to automatically qualify.
Njoku’s teammates Julienne McKee and Joanna Wright will begin competition on Friday, June 10 in the triple jump and pole vault.
