PUEBLO, Col. – Leah Graybill qualified for the finals of the 200 meters at the 2023 NCAA Division II Outdoor Track & Field Championships on Friday, improving her school record by running 23.46 seconds in action at the Colorado State University Pueblo Thunderbowl.
 
Graybill competed in the first of three preliminary heats and finished fourth in her heat, using a strong close over the final 50 meters and an excellent lean at the line to achieve her new personal best. Her time is an improvement of .19 seconds from her previous PR and seed time (23.65 seconds) that was set at the 2023 Colonial Relays.
 
The Top 2 times in each heat automatically qualify for finals, with the next three remaining fastest times also earning a chance to run Saturday. Graybill had to wait out the final two heats to see if she made it, and her time proved to be just enough. Walsh's Kya Epps also ran 23.46 seconds, but Graybill's time was deemed .008 seconds faster by the timers to warrant her the No. 8 seed and Epps the No. 9 seed. Corrssia Perry of West Texas A&M ran 23.47 seconds, missing out on the finals by .01 seconds.
 
Graybill, who is making her third NCAA Championships appearance, will achieve All-America honors Saturday with a successful finish. The Top 8 places earn All-America First Team classifications. Places nine through 12 earn All-America Second Team classifications. Graybill finished sixth at the 2023 NCAA Indoor Championships for her first All-America classification.
 
The start time for Saturday's 200-meter finals is 9:45 p.m. EST. Graybill will run in lane nine.