By Mason Nesbitt, The Master’s University Sports Information Director

It looked for a minute as if Seanna Nalbandyan‘s lead during prelims at the NAIA Outdoor Track and Field Championships was slipping away.

But much like she did at conference finals earlier in the year, the freshman showed her knack for closing out a race, winning her heat of the 400-meter hurdles by one-tenth of a second Thursday at Mickey Miller Blackwell Stadium in Gulf Shores, Alabama.

Nalbandyan’s time of 1 minute, 1.69 seconds was three-tenths of a second off her season best, but it was enough to secure a position in Saturday’s final. Her time was sixth best overall during prelims.

“I feel blessed to be able to advance to the finals and compete against such amazing girls,” said Nalbandyan, who edged out Kara Simmons from Friends University (Kansas). “I feel like I can definitely work on the beginning of my race and just finish with everything I have left in me, but overall I am happy with it.”

Nalbandyan entered nationals with the fourth-fastest time in the NAIA this year (1:01.66). The mark also serves as TMU’s program record.

“Seanna is a coach’s dream,” said TMU assistant coach Denean Hill, a three-time Olympian. “She works hard. She wants it. And she goes out there and does it. She makes my job easy.”

Friday, TMU’s Stephen Pacheco will run in the 5,000 prelims.