ISU women’s track and field runner Kianna Elahi ran the 400-meter hurdles semifinals race this Wednesday at the NCAA Outdoor Track and Field National Championships.

Elahi, a junior, finished fourth in her heat with a time of 56.92 seconds, but failed to qualify for the finals, which will be run Friday evening.

“I felt like it went well. The time was a little bit slower than I thought it was going to be,” Elahi said. “I hit the stride progression that I was supposed to and I feel like I finished hard, and I felt like it was a good race.”

Elahi had a difficult draw going in to her heat, with three of the top four finishers running in it. Only two runners from each heat automatically qualified for the finals.

Miami’s Ti’erra Brown, who ran a time of 55.59, and Kansas State’s Ryann Krais, who clocked a 55.68, finished first and second in Elahi’s heat to automatically qualify for the final event.

“I was really nervous because my coach told me it was probably going to be the most competitive heat. So I had that in mind,” Elahi said. “I was really trying to focus on myself and my race and just doing everything I can with the blessings that God’s given me.”

Despite failing to qualify for the 400-meter hurdles finals, Elahi said that having made it to the championships made her season a success. 

“I ran faster than I did last year and I know I’m a lot stronger than I was last year, so it’s encouraging,” Elahi said. “I do wish I had been a little bit more consistent running 56’s, but overall I feel like it’s been a really good year.”