BOSTON—Graduate student Izzy Giesing (Bradford, Vt.) punched her ticket to the 2023 NCAA Division I Indoor Track & Field Championships Sunday afternoon after a rousing performance in the women's 800m at the Last Chance Meet hosted by Boston University.
 
"We knew Izzy has been capable of running that time the last month. She just needed to get in the right race," said Head Coach Gary Gardner.
 
Giesing cruised to a personal best 2:02.35 time in the middle distance event to claim fifth overall in the event. Going head-to-head with professional runners from around the world, Giesing held her own to claim her spot in the NCAA finals and lead all collegiate runners.
 
"Today, she raced patiently and closed really well to beat a host of seasoned professionals," remarked Gardner. "I'm looking forward to watching her at NCAAs in two weeks."
 
Giesing was one of two River Hawks women's runners to see a personal best in Boston this afternoon. Freshman Miana Caraballo (Methuen, Mass.) took on the women's mile and clocked in at 5:03.12 to take 19th overall. With her time, Caraballo shaved nearly four seconds off her previous fastest mark.
 
"Miana finished off indoors with another PR. She'll be a major contributor for us in the future," said Gardner about the rookie.
 
On the men's side, senior Timothy Champlin (Charlestown, R.I.) snagged a first-place finish in the men's 1,000m race. Champlin stopped the clock at 2:28.51 to take the top spot, coming within milliseconds of setting a new personal best.
 
Graduate student Christopher McCauliff (Lunenburg, Mass.) earned another career best for the River Hawks to cap his season. McCauliff represented the Mill City in the men's 800m, where he placed 27th with a new fastest mark of 1:54.83.
 
Giesing heads west to Albuquerque, New Mexico, in two weeks for the 2023 NCAA Indoor Track & Field Championships, March 10-11, at the Albuquerque Convention Center.