PEORIA, Ill. -- For the second time in her career senior Kristen Busch (Waterloo, Ill./Freeburg) will compete in the 10,000 meters at the NCAA Outdoor Track & Field Championship, running in the event Thursday night in Eugene, Ore.

Busch, who earned honorable mention All-America honors in the 10K in 2014 after an 18th-place finish as a sophomore, will toe the line Thursday at 9:08 p.m. (CDT) at historic Hayward Field for the final race of her collegiate career.  She earned a spot in the field with an 11th-place showing at the NCAA West Prelim in Lawrence, Kan., two weeks ago to earn one of 24 spots in the championship.  

The third three-time 10,000 meter champion in Missouri Valley Conference history, Busch is one of 20 individuals from the MVC to reach the NCAA Championship and one of nine women from the MVC scheduled to compete at the NCAA Championship which will be held June 8-11.  

In addition to winning her third MVC outdoor 10,000 meter title this spring, Busch earned all-region honors in cross country and reached the NCAA Cross Country Championship this past fall.  She also won the 5,000 meter title at the 2016 MVC Indoor Track & Field Championship to help highlight her senior season.

A 14-time All-MVC performer, Busch owns the school record in the 10,000 meters and the six-time MVC champion has clocked six of the top eight times in the event in Bradley history.    

Thursday's race will be on ESPN with a free video stream available via ESPN3 at http://espn.go.com/watchespn/?DB_OEM_ID=500