May 12, 2001

LOS ANGELES - UNLV senior distance runner Katie Barto provisionally qualified for the NCAA Track and Field Championships for the second time this season, clocking 4:22.19 to win the 1,500 meters at the Oxy Invitational on Saturday.

Barto, who had already qualified in the 5,000 meters earlier this season, won the event by more than three seconds and trimmed more than three seconds off her personal best. She now ranks 17th nationally and second in the conference in the 1,500.

As a provisional qualifier in the 5,000, Barto ranks only 36th nationally in the event. With only the top 20 athletes expected to earn a bid to the national championships, an invitation for Barto was unlikely. However, the Henderson native and Green Valley High School graduate, who was unranked in the 1,500 before Saturday's win, is very likely to receive an invitation to compete for the national title in shorter race.

"It's always hard to tell where the line will be drawn for provisional qualifiers," UNLV distance coach Mary Shea said. "We think she will get in with this time, but just to be sure, we'll be looking to go faster at conference."

Barto will have one opportunity left to improve her time -- the Mountain West Conference Championships, scheduled for next Wednesday, May 16 through Saturday, May 19 at the SDSU Sports Deck in San Diego. She presently ranks second in the league behind BYU's Sharolyn Shields, and her time should improve even more from the speedier competition.