SRU’s track and field standout to compete on ‘American Ninja Warrior’
May 3, 2017
SLIPPERY ROCK, Pa. - Slippery Rock University All-American track and field standout Sabrina Anderson has been invited to compete at the Cleveland taping of the NBC television show "American Ninja Warrior," May 8 in Cleveland Public Square.
The hit television show puts top athletes through a rigorous obstacle course against the clock. Men and women compete against each other in one single division in each of the four City Qualifiers around the country. In order to make the City Finals, athletes must post one of the 30 fastest times in the opening round. To make the National Finals in Las Vegas in June, athletes must be in the top 15 of the City Finals. The City Finals will take place in Cleveland, May 9, one day after the qualifying round.
"I'm really looking forward to it and excited that they picked me to come to the taping," said Anderson. "It's been hard to prepare for it with my MBA classes and track and field training, but I have been specifically preparing for the course for about four weeks now by using the rock wall at the (Aebersold) Student Recreation Center and any bars or things I can climb around campus."
Anderson noted that the closest training site that features obstacles similar to the ones on the show is more than three hours away in Columbus, Ohio. Due to her schedule, she has been unable to visit that gym since she found out she would be on the show.
Athletes are scheduled to start running the course at 8 p.m., May 8. Admission to the taping is free, but only a select number of seats are released and fans hoping to attend must sign up for the waitlist, click here.
While Anderson is looking forward to the taping, she will first focus her attention on helping lead the SRU track and field team at the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference championships, May 4-6. A two-time defending league champion in the heptathlon, Anderson is scheduled to compete in eight events over the three days. She will compete in the seven events of the heptathlon over the first two days and will also compete in the high jump.
With less than two days rest after the PSAC meet, she will turn her focus to "American Ninja Warrior."
Anderson was named the 2016 PSAC Student-Athlete of the Year after completing her entire undergraduate program in exercise science with a GPA of more than 3.90 in just three years. She is on pace to finish her master's program in business administration in just one year, thereby earning her undergraduate and graduate degrees in four years. In addition to her Academic All-America honors, Anderson is also an All-American as an athlete, earning first team All-America honors for indoor track and field and second team All-America honors during the outdoor season.
Due to the nature of pre-taped television shows and non-disclosure agreements, Anderson's results on American Ninja Warrior will not be known until the show airs. The season premiere is set for June 12.
MEDIA CONTACT: Jon Holtz | 724.738.4925 | jonathan.holtz@sru.edu