BROOKINGS, S. D. – For the sixth time in her Jessup career, Azalea Prince ran on a national stage as the 2024 NAIA Indoor Track & Field National Championship got under on Thursday. Competing in the 5000M, Prince leaves South Dakota with sights now set on a trip to Indiana at the end of the season.
 
Prince has now competed in two indoor national championships, joining the other four nationals she has qualified for in her career. It was Prince's second nationals appearance of the 2023-24 season, as she also punched her ticket to Vancouver, Wash., for the cross country championships last fall.
 
The Gold River native has appeared in two cross country national championships, along with two trips to the outdoor track & field nationals.
 
Prince punched her ticket to South Dakota for the second season in a row in the women's 5000m. The 29-runner field saw Prince be one of two GSAC runners in competition, joining Emma Timmermans of Hope International.
 
Hasnae Goulamzi of Texas Wesleyan won the prelim race, as the top 12 qualified for the finals on Saturday. Both Prince and Timmermans did not finish in the top 12.
 
Prince posted a time of 18:42.46 as the senior wrapped up her indoor career on the biggest stage inside the Sanford-Jackrabbit Athletic Complex. But with several outdoor competitions upcoming, Prince will have her sights set on one more trip to nationals as her Jessup career winds down.
 
The 2024 NAIA Outdoor Track & Field National Championship begins on May 22 from Indiana Wesleyan University in Marion, Ind.
 
But the action from Brookings is not done, as tomorrow two Warriors will be in action. Sophomore Erica Waseq will be on the track as the prelims for the 60m Hurdle as scheduled for 10:35 a.m. (PST). Then at 1 p.m. (PST), freshman Paloma Baumert begins her first nationals appearance in the pole vault.
 
The prelims and finals of the pole vault will both be on Friday, while the 60m Hurdle finals will be on Saturday at 10:45 a.m. (PST).
 
Live timing can be followed HERE.
   
Jessup University is a member of the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA), and the Golden State Athletic Conference (GSAC). For additional information regarding Jessup Athletics, visit www.jessupathletics.com; visit www.jessup.edu for more information on Jessup University. Follow Jessup Athletics on social media: Jessup University Athletics (Facebook) and @JessupAthletics (Twitter & Instagram).