WESTFIELD, Mass. – Westfield State senior Lexi Popp (Westford, Mass.) finished fourth in the nation in the 400 hurdles to earn All-America honors at the NCAA Division III National Championship meet at the Spire Institute in Geneva, Ohio on Saturday afternoon.

Popp will wrap up a stellar career at Westfield State as a two-time All-American when the USTFCCCA announces their award winners later this week.

Running today in lane 2, she was eighth coming off the turn into the home straight, and passed four competitors in the final 50 yards to win the fourth-place finish in a time of 1:01.08.

Emory (Ga.) University's Dilys Osei won a photo finish from Loras (Ia.) College's Bella Solis in a time of 58.98 seconds to win the national title.

Popp was making her third appearance at an NCAA Championship meet.  She placed seventh in the nation in the 400 meters indoors in March, and improved her placing in the 400 hurdles from 18^th at the 2018 NCAA Outdoor Championships in La Crosse, Wisc.

The lone Owls' women's track and field athlete to qualify, Popp earned five points win the team scoring with her finish, such that Westfield State finished 47^th in the team scoring at the meet.

Popp entered the championship with the 10^th-fastest seed time.  On Thursday She Popp qualified for the finals with the eighth-fastest time (1:02.38).

Popp, who graduated on May 18, holds four school records – the 400 hurdles (1:00.26), the Indoor 200 meters (25.76), the indoor 400 meters (56.09) and the outdoor 400 meters (55.84).