EUGENE, Ore. – This time for Marta Freitas, the tears represented joy and excitement.
And of course, sweet and emotional redemption.
One year removed from a devastating fall that resulted in a broken wrist on this same track at Hayward Field, Freitas concluded a perfect senior campaign by winning the 1500m run at the NCAA Outdoor Track and Field Championships Saturday.
The SEC and NCAA East Prelims winner held off Stanford’s Elise Cranny at the finish line with a time of 4:09.53, just ahead of Cranny at 4:09.54.
The Portugal native was second after the opening lap, but then quickly took the lead, one she never relinquished.