WSU's Ketcham and Gonzaga's Mills surprise and advance to Eugene...
AUSTIN, Texas—Day 2 of the NCAA West Preliminary Round at Mike A. Myers Stadium on the campus of the University of Texas saw a mild surprise in the women’s high jump, and women’s steeplechase as Washington State’s Audrey Ketcham (above/photo courtesy WSU Athletics) and Shelby Mills of Gonzaga advanced to the national finals in Eugene in two weeks.
Ketcham clear a personal best 5-11.5 (1.82m) to finish fifth and advance to Eugene, while teammate and former Pac-12 champ Charlotte Muschamp tied for 15th at 5-8 (1.73m).
Pasco native Marisa Howard of Boise State (9:59.55) and in a big surprise, Gonzaga’s Shelby Mills (10:11.37) both advanced to Eugene in the women’s 3000 steeplechase, as Mills, a native of Snohomish, becomes the first Zag to qualify for the national championships.
Eastern’s Paula Gil-Eehevarria (10:21.99) was 14th, while teammates Katie Mahoney (10:48.69) and Catie Arrigoni (11:00.18) were 38th and 44th.
In the women’s 400 hurdles, the Washington State duo of Liz Harper and Alissa Brooks-Johnson, along with Washington’s Gianna Woodruff all advanced to Eugene.
Woodruff ran one second faster than she did Thursday night, clocking 58.17, while Harper ran 58.23, and Brooks-Johnson, who has a spot in the national championships in the heptathlon, ran 58.81.
Tacoma’s Marcus Chambers of Oregon advanced to run in front of the Hayward Field fans in two weeks in the 400 meters, running 46.09.
Washington’s Baylee Mires advanced to Eugene in the 800 meters, running 2:05.19.
After running only the 19th fastest times in the first round Thursday, Washington State’s Jesse Jorgensen ran 1:48.07, the third fastest time of the evening to advance to his first NCAA outdoor championship.
Washington’s Meron Simon advanced to Eugene by finishing 6th overall in 8:48.19. Washington State’s Forrest Shaffer (9:01.20), Gonzaga’s Troy Fraley (9:10.49) and the Husky duo of Andrew Gardner (9:11.91), and Aaron Nelson were 20th, 29th, 32nd and 42nd, respectively.
In the women’s pole vault, it took 13-11 (4.24m) to advance to Eugene, and Washington’s Kristina Owsinski was the only one of the three Husky vaulters to advance. Former Pac-12 champ Diamara Planell Cruz along with Baylor’s Annie Rhodes to have two first attempt makes at 13-7 (4.14m), so the duo had a jump-off for the 12th and final spot, with Rhodes winning.
Liz Quick of the Huskies had a personal best in clearing 13-7 (4.14m). WSU’s Kristine Felix, the 2013 Pac-12 champ only managed to clear 12-7.25 (3.84m).
In the women’s discus, Washington’s Gina Filnt (168-0/51.21m) was 28th, while Eastern Washington’s Emma Murillo had three straight fouls.
Washington State’s Brock Eager was 20th in the men’s hammer, throwing 202-3 (61.65m).
Frank Catelli of Washington was 36th in the men’s shot put, with a best of 56-10.25 (17.33m).
In first round action, Chris Williams of Washington ran a wind-aided 13.81 to advance to Saturday’s quarterfinals. Williams will have a busy day ahead Saturday with the 110 hurdles, pole vault and the 4 x 100 relay.
Bria’una Watley qualified for the women’s 200m dash Saturday quarterfinals with her first round performance. Watley ran a time of 23.75 but finished third in her heat and was an automatic advancer. Dominique Keel of the Cougs ran a time of 24.14 and finished 38th, two spots behind Washington’s Haley Jacobson (24.08).
Terrance Chambers of WSU advanced to the men’s 200m dash quarterfinals with his third place first round heat finish. Chambers’ time was a slightly wind-aided 21.19 which was actually 29th-best in the first round but his heat finish guaranteed him the advancement.
In the women’s 100 hurdles, WSU’s Candice McFarland was 39th (13.73), and UW’s Kimberly Stueckle ran 13.94 to finish 46th.
The meet concludes Saturday starting at 10 am pacific time, with the men’s javelin. The first track event gets underway at 4 pm pacific. The NCAA is providing live streaming coverage of the meet beginning at 10 am pacific via this link.
Comments