Martha Bissah advances at NCAAs for Norfolk State

Courtesy: Norfolk State Athletics

EUGENE, Ore. – Norfolk State University sophomore Martha Bissah continued her historic track and field season on Thursday night, placing second in her 800-meter semifinal heat to advance to Saturday’s event final at the NCAA Outdoor Track & Field Championships at the University of Oregon’s Hayward Field.

#MEAC @NSUSpartans Martha Bissah advances to the finals of the women’s 800! A photo finish! pic.twitter.com/PFldsdnAoN

— MEAC (@MEACSports) June 8, 2018

Bissah posted a time of 2 minutes, 6.17 seconds, running a gutsy last few meters to inch past Jasmine Staebler of Iowa State and Susan Aneno of Connecticut at the finish line and earn the second automatic qualifier spot from the third and final heat. Bissah, who appeared to be boxed in on the inside of the track coming off the final turn, made her move late, finding enough daylight to squeeze by Staebler and Aneno to finish second behind Ashley Taylor of Northern Arizona.

✔️Qualified! Martha Bissah nabs the 2nd automatic qualifier spot from her heat to advance to Saturday's NCAA 800m final! #ncaaTF #Behold pic.twitter.com/TySR9GpBMC

— NSU Athletics (@NSUSpartans) June 8, 2018

Bissah becomes the first Spartan female to advance to an NCAA event final since Debbie Dunn, who did so in both the 400 meters (outdoors) and 200 meters (indoors) in 2000.

Saturday’s 800-meter final is scheduled for 7:44 p.m. Eastern time (4:44 Pacific) and will be carried live on ESPN.