After three separate trips to NCAA national championship track and field meets, senior Alexandria Spruiel finally achieved one of the two accomplishments she sought.

Spruiel ran a 53.60 in the 400 meter preliminaries at the 2009 NCAA Indoor Track and Field Nationals at Texas A&M to advance to Saturday’s finals. Spruiel’s qualifying time guarantees she will be forever known as an All-American after finishing in the top eight.

Her new status makes her the first N.C. A&T female track and field athlete to earn All-American honors. She is the third Aggie overall ? male or female ? to become an All-American. Spruiel is making her second appearance at the NCAA Indoor Nationals. She also has qualified for an outdoor nationals.

“It is gratifying,’’ Spruiel said. “I was hurt last year and it frustrating because I knew I was faster than what I was showing. People I knew I could beat were beating me. I just went to rehab and took care of my body. I knew this year was my last year, so I wanted to be healthy.”

Spruiel had a hip-flexor injury that slowed her down for the 2008 outdoor season. She came back this season to compete in indoor and was able to qualify for nationals with a time 52.56 at the Virginia Tech Last Chance meet. It was the fourth-best time in the country this season. The only thing left for Spruiel is to win an individual national title on Saturday. Teammate Loreal Smith also qualified for NCAA Nationals, but could not advance to the finals.