GENEVA, OH – The University of Rochester women's track & field team saw a pair of qualifiers for Saturday's finals in the 400-meter hurdles and the 4x400-meter relay at the 2025 NCAA Division III Outdoor Track & Field Championships at The SPIRE Institute.
 
Nora Chen secured the Yellowjackets' first finals spot of the day, topping her heat in the 400m hurdles. Chen won the third and final heat of the 400-meter hurdles prelims, crossing the finish line in 1:01.51 to earn an automatic qualifier to Saturday's final. Chen's time ranked fifth overall, with the three heat-winners and top six remaining times advancing to the final on Saturday at 3:25 p.m.
 
Joining Chen in the 400-meter hurdle prelims was Eva Ciuffetelli, and the sophomore finished seventh in her heat and 22nd overall with a time of 1:04.50.
 
Later on in the evening, both Chen and Ciuffetelli helped the Yellowjackets' 4x400-meter relay earn a spot in Saturday's final, placing fourth in their heat and eighth overall to notch a qualifying spot. Chen and Ciuffetelli, along with Megan Bell and Raquella Casserino, combined for a time of 3:47.81, moving up two spots over the final 400 meters to secure their spot in Saturday's final.
 
Ciuffetelli kicked off UR's relay, and along with Chen, combined to run the first 1,200 meters in 1:55.84, while Casserino clocked in at 57.74 over the next 400 meters. Bell then jumped two spots over the final leg, running a 54.24-second split to assure Rochester a spot in Saturday's final.
 
Bell will be back on the track for day two of the 2025 NCAA Division III Outdoor Track & Field Championships on Friday, May 23 for the 800-meter prelims at 4:15 p.m.