Marielle Hall, who has already made the U.S. Olympic team in the 10,000, placed third Thursday evening in the 5,000 with an auto qualifier 15:27.67.
There were two semifinal races, with the first six finishers advancing to the final along with the next four-fastest times.
The 10-fastest times came out of the second semifinal. Hall was a comfortable fifth, advancing comfortably on the Hayward Field track in Eugene, Ore.
Hall, a Haddonfield native who went on to earn All-America honors at Texas, will be back on the track at 7:28 p.m. EST Sunday night in the championship race.
Hall’s 5,000 PR is 15:06.45, set at Hayward Field last year.
On Thursday, Hall ran mid-pack through 3,000 meters, averaging 75.6 per lap before picking things up with laps of 74.5, 73.2, 73.2, 73.2 through 4,600 meters – a 4:50.1 mile – and then closing with a 66.5 final lap.
The top five finishers in the second semifinal all ran between 15:26.33 and 15:27.67 and all closed in 65.4 through 68.1.
Kim Conley won the first semifinal in 15:40.04, which would have placed 11th in the second race.
From the Backstretch by Reuben Frank 