Eight seconds can make all the difference on the track.

One year ago, freshman distance runner Kenyetta Iyevbele was running 800 meters in 2 minutes, 14 seconds and was part of a promising freshman crop for the Wolfpack track team.

The All-American posted a time of 2:06.37 to take the title on Saturday in Eugene, Ore. With this victory, Iyevbele qualified to represent the U.S. in the Pan American Junior Athletics Championships in July.

Iyevbele capped off her freshman campaign by winning the USA Outdoor Track and Field Junior National Championship in the 800-meter event.

“I feel really good about it. I’m very excited,” Iyevbele said. “It was an awesome race, and I’m very thankful and excited about going to Junior Pan now.”

Throughout her heat, she said her mindset was to stay with the group, but she was able to seize the moment when the window of opportunity appeared.

“I just thought, ‘stay with the pack, stay with the pack’,” Iyevbele said. “Sometimes we go out fast, and sometimes we go out a little slow. I just tried to make sure I was aware of the field and the other competitors

“I held it out that last 250 [meters] before I put myself in a good position to tire out at many people as I could and get good time.”

But the victory was definitely not expected from other competitors in the field, as she did not qualify for the 800-meter event in the ACC Outdoor Championships, and she finished seventh in the NCAA Championships.

Even though she was not seen as a favorite, Iyevbele said she always remained confident.

“We went into the outdoor season and ACC’s, where I didn’t do as well as I wanted to at all,” Iyevbele said. “Then I qualified for regionals and then nationals, which was very exciting and unexpected. I’m very thankful that [Head Track and Field Coach Rollie Geiger] motivated me and helped me train and work even harder to qualify for nationals.

According to Iyevbele, the ride has been a blessing full of hard work, dedication and unpredictability.

“There’s always surprises coming, and I’m going to continue to strive, stay focused, and do my best,” Iyevbele said. “When I was named an All-American I felt really good. I was living a dream, and it was very exciting. I’m pretty much speechless.”