Elon’s Novotna to Compete for Native Czech Republic at European Track and Field Championships

ELON, N.C. – Tereza Novotna of the Elon University women’s cross country and track and field team has been selected to compete for her native Czech Republic at the 2014 European Team Championships this Saturday, June 21 in Brunswick, Germany.

Novotna will compete in the 3,000-meter steeplechase race for the Czech Republic against some of the top athletes in Europe. The Hradec Kralove, Czech Republic, native was the Southern Conference champion in the event during the outdoor season and set a new school-record with a time of 10:29.28.

“I was very excited when I found out I was selected,” said Novotna. “I didn’t think I would be in this position to represent my country’s track team, but I’m really excited and looking forward to be racing this Saturday.”

Novotna came up just shy of qualifying for the NCAA East Preliminaries by one spot and a time just .01 in the steeplechase. She also earned all-conference accolades in cross country this past season and helped the Phoenix to its highest finish ever at the NCAA Southeast Regional Championships with a ninth-place standing.

“I’m very proud of Tereza,” said Elon head cross country coach Christine Engel. “It is, obviously, quite an honor for her to represent her home country at the European Team Championships. She has really matured as an athlete and improved with each season. It is certainly exciting to see the Czech selection committee recognize that progress and know she is ready for that level of competition. I am looking forward to Tereza bringing this experience back with her to Elon in August.”

The 2014 European Athletics Team Championships will take place on June 21-22, featuring the 12 best teams in Europe. Novotna will be one of 20 athletes representing the Czech Republic and the country’s top athlete in the 3,000-meter steeplechase.