Okoronkwo, Fossen & Herberg all book trips to Eugene & the NCAA championships...

COLLEGE STATION, Texas--Mountlake Terrace HS graduate Chinne Okoronkwo of Texas Tech (photo courtesy Texas Tech Athletics) and Eastern Washington's Morgan Fossen both advanced to the NCAA national championship finals in the pole vault to highlight action on day 2 of the NCAA West Preliminary round at Cushing Stadium on the Texas A&M campus Thursday.

Thursday's session consisted of early round heats solely for women, with only five field events and one running event contested as a semifinal, with the top twelve in those events advancing to Eugene.

Okoronkwo was one of eight vaulters who cleared 14-0 (4.27m), while Fossen was one of nine to clear 13-8.25 (4.17m). 

For Okoronkwo, a three-time Big !2 champ, this marks the first time the native of Lynnwood will get an opportunity to vault at Hayward Field in her collegiate career

Fossen got the final spot to Eugene based on fewer misses, as she cleared 13-8.25 (4.17m) on her second attempt. Her only other miss during the competition was at 12-10.25 (3.92m), which the Medford, Oregon native cleared on her second attempt.

The Eagle senior gets an opportunity to return to Eugene, as she competed for Lane Community College before moving on to Eastern Washington.

Washington's Pac-12 cross country champion Haley Herberg easily advanced to Eugene with her fifth place finish in the 10000 meters, running 33:40.32.

Washington advanced three athletes--Allie Schadler (4:17.48), Madison Heisterman (4:18.47). and Anna Gibson (4:19.22) in the 1500, along with 2019 All-American Darhian Mills (59.29) in the 400 hurdles.  Washington State advanced Stephanie Cho (58.61) in the 400 hurdles, while Sammamish native Brooke Manson of Utah advanced (2:06.53) in the 800.

The men return to the track Friday, while the women return Saturday, as 12 spots in 15 events will be decided over the next two days.

Day 2 results are available here.

FALCON SENIOR DANIA HOLMBERG ADVANCES TO 1500M FINAL AT NCAA D2 CHAMPS...

In Allendale, Michigan, Seattle Pacific's Dania Holmberg hung on for a sixth-place finish in her heat and 12th place overall in the preliminaries at the NCAA Division II Track & Field Championships Thursday afternoon.

Holmberg's time of 4:29.42 seconds was fast enough – by 47/100ths – to nab the last available spot for Saturday afternoon's championship race inside Grand Valley State Track & Field Stadium. The top four finishers in each of the two heats automatically advanced, plus the four fastest times. 

The day did not go quite as well for fellow senior Scout Cai. Looking for a second straight top-8 finish in the pole vault, Cai got over the opening height of 12-5.5 (3.80m) on her third and final attempt, but went out at 12-11.5 (3.95m) to finish 13th. 

Saturday, Holmberg will run in the finals of the women's 1500, while the rest of the Washington based athletes--Western Washington's Calahan Warren (1500), Hannah Nienaber (javelin), and Aliyah Dawkins (high jump)--will all compete Saturday as well.

Live results of the NCAA Division II track & field championships are available here.

NOTE: The NCAA, and the sports information offices of Seattle Pacific, Western Washington, Eastern Washington, Texas Tech, University of Washington, and Washington State contributed to this report.

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