Huskies' distance medley relay squad earns All-America honors with eighth place finish...
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| Meron Simon, Quadelle Satterwhite, Derrick Daigre & Blake Nelson (l to r) earn NCAA All-America honors (photo courtesy Univ of Washington) |
The Huskies' Nelson found himself in about seventh or eighth in the 1200 leg, running 2:59.06 before handing the baton off to Satterwhite, who got the Dawgs back in the thick of things with is 47.89 400 leg, getting Washington into fifth.
Daigre ran a strong 800 meter leg of 1:50.19, moving the Huskies up a spot before handing the baton off to Meron Simon, who ran an anchor leg of 4:07.62 for 1600.
Stanford took the victory in a time of 9:37.63, with Oregon second in 9:40.47, and Indiana third in 9:41.23.
In the women's pole vault, the Huskies' Diamara Planell Cruz missed a top eight finish, as she cleared 13-11 1/4 (4.25m) to finish ninth.
Texas' Kaitlin Petrillose set a collegiate and meet record, clearing 15-1 (4.60m).
Washington State's Jesse Jorgensen qualified for the finals of the men's 800 meters by finishing fifth in the first of two semifinal heats, running 1:50.79.
The Puyallup HS product was in the middle of the pack through the first two laps, and stayed there through the course of the race, going through 400 in 53.93.
Iowa State's Edward Kemboi won the heat in 1:48.37, which was the fastest of the two heats. In contrast, Ryan Schnulle of Florida won heat 2 in 1:51.36, as only the top three finishers in each of the two heats advanced to the finals, plus the two fastest on times, which came out of the first heat.
“I’m really proud of Jesse tonight,” Cougars distance coach Dr. Tim Riley said. “He slipped out of the gates and looked a little tight in the middle but got the job done and advanced. Tomorrow is anyone’s race and it will probably come down to who races smart and wants it the most.”
Rainier Beach HS grad Michael Berry of the University of Oregon finished second in his heat of the 400, running 46.10, the seventh fastest time of the day, and good enough to advance to Saturday's final, which will be contested in two sections.
In the men's mile, Washington's Izaic Yorks did not advance to the finals, as he finished seventh in his heat, running 4:13.17.
FALCONS' FRICKER ADVANCES TO NCAA D2 800 FINALS
At the NCAA Division II championships in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, McKayla Fricker of Seattle Pacific advanced to the finals in the women's 800, winning her semifinal race in 2:10.00.
Her Falcon teammate Lynelle Decker was fifth in her heat in 2:11.86, and did not advance to the finals.
Western Washington's Tanya Bjornsson finished ninth in the finals of the long jump with a mark of 18-7 (5.66m).
Pole vaulter Cheyenna Pinley finished 15th overall with a best of 11-7 3/4 (3.55m).
Chip Jackson of WWU and teammate Alex Donigian did not make the finals in the mile and 60 dash.
Jackson ran 4:16.56 to finish sixth in his heat of the mile, while Donigian finished sixth in his heat of the 60 meter dash in 6.86.
Saturday, Western will send out shot putter Frank Catelli, while Central Washington's Tayler Fettig goes in the finals of the women's high jump.
NOTE: The sports information offices of Washington State, Seattle Pacific, Western Washington, and the University of Washington contributed to this report.
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