GREENSBORO, NC- Iona College outdoor track and field sophomores Heidi Gregson and Daniel Lipus advanced to the quarterfinal heats of the 1,500-meter run with their performances on Thursday afternoon at the 2010 NCAA Division I East Track and Field Preliminary Round. The duo will compete on Saturday in hopes of advancing to the NCAA Championship in Eugene, OR from June 9-12.

Gregson had the seventh fastest time in the opening round at North Carolina A&T State University. Her time of 4:22.09 was good for second in Heat #2, less than a second behind the heat winner from Villanova. Half of the field in two heats of 12 runners on Saturday at approximately 6:45 pm will advance to Eugene. The top five runners from each heat in addition to the next two fastest times qualify for the NCAA semifinals.

Lipus also finished second in his heat, clocking a time of 3:48.15. He was less than a half second behind the heat winner from Columbia. The time was the fourth fastest in the four-heat, 48-competitor race field. Like the women's 1500, the top five runners in the two quarterfinal heats will advance to the NCAA semifinal race at the University of Oregon. The quarterfinals commence on Saturday at approximately 6:30 pm.

Graduate Anna Holm-Joergensen completed Iona's race action on Thursday with a 38th place finish in the 10,000-meter run. Joergensen battled the heat in her performance and a time of 36:54.39.

Lipus, Gregson and sophomore Alexander Soderberg complete action in Greensboro on Saturday. Soderberg competes in the 5,000-meter semifinals at 8:05 pm.

2010 NCAA Division I East Track and Field Preliminary Round
Greensboro, NC - North Carolina A&T State Univ.
May 27, 2010

Iona Performers:
1500 men prelim: Daniel Lipus, 4th (2nd in heat), 3:48.15; 1500 women prelim: Heidi Gregson, 7th, (2nd in heat), 4:22.09; 10k women semifinal: Anna Holm-Joergensen, 38th, 36:54.39.