Huskies' Haley Herberg takes fifth in NCAA 10000m finals...

EUGENE--Washington's Haley Herberg (photo courtesy NCAA Photos) set a personal best in finishing fifth in the women's 10000 meters to highlight action in day 2 of the NCAA Outdoor Track & Field Championships at Hayward Field at the University of Oregon Thursday afternoon.

Herberg was part of a group of about 14 athletes that ran together for the first 6000 meters.

Shortly before 7000 meters, the group broke into two groups, with the eventual winner Carmela Cardama Baez of Oregon and Mercy Chelangat of Alabama, with Herberg part of a group of five behind the duo.

Cardama Baez took the win in 32:16.13, followed by Chelangat in 32:22.11.

Herberg, the Pac-12 cross country champion and native of Mission Viejo, California, crossed the line in fifth, running a personal best 32:35.59, finishing with a 73.1 final 400.

In the other final involving Washington athletes, Mountlake Terrace HS standout Chinne Okoronkwo of Texas Tech finished seventh with a season best 14-1.25 (4.30m), while Eastern Washington's Morgan Fossen finished tenth with a personal best 13-9.25 (4.20m).

Both cleared the opening height of 13-3.5 (4.05m), and the second height of 13-9.25 (4.20m). Fossen bowed out at 14-1.25 (4.30m) while Okoronkwo cleared on her first attempt, before going out with three misses at 14-3.25 (4.35m).

Lisa Gunnarson of LSU won the event with a best of 14-5.25 (4.40m).

In the 3000 steeplechase semis, both Washington's Katie Rainsberger and Notre Dame's Olivia Markezich set personal bests to advance to Saturday's final.

Rainsberger ran a new school record time of 9:36.71 to finish second in the heat behind Auburn's Joyce Kimeli's 9:35.57. Markezich, a native of Woodinville, was sixth in the same heat, running 9:42.41, and advanced as the final time qualifier.

Former Husky Charlotte Prouse of New Mexico also advanced to Saturday's final, as the Canadian ran a personal best 9:37.05 to finish third in heat two.

Washington State's Stephanie Cho earned the last qualifying position in the 400 hurdles, as the 2018 NCAA qualifier ran a personal best 57.64. 

Washington's Darhian Mills, a 2019 seventh-place finisher, finished eighth in her heat in 62.30 and did not advance.

The Huskies' Madison Heisterman ran her second fastest time in her career, finishing seventh in her heat in 4:15.58, but did not advance to Saturday's final.

Friday, the spotlight returns to the men's competition, as eight men with Washington ties compete. In addition, Washington's Ida Eikeng and Lyndsey Lopes begin competition in the heptathlon.

The list of Washington athletes competing the next two days is listed below.

FRIDAY: 

Men's Events, plus heptathlon

Noon - Start of Heptathlon (day 1) - Ida Eikeng & Lyndsey Lopes (UW)

4:30 pm - High Jump - Mitch Jacobson (WSU)

4:35 pm – Discus – Elijah Mason (UW)

5:11 pm – 1500m Final – Sam Tanner (UW), Paul Ryan (WSU)

5:20 pm - Triple Jump - Keshun McGee (Alabama)

5:24 pm - 3000m Steeplechase Final – Colton Johnsen (WSU)

6:55 pm – 5000m Final – Isaac Green (UW), James Mwaura (Gonzaga)

7:21 pm - 4 x 400 Relay Finals - Ryan Croson (Baylor)

SATURDAY: 

Women's Events

11:00 am - Start of Heptathlon (day 2) - Ida Eikeng & Lyndsey Lopes (UW)

2:30 pm - High Jump - Suzy Pace (WSU)

3:20 pm - Triple Jump - Charisma Taylor (WSU)

3:24 pm – 3000m Steeplechase Final – Katie Rainsberger (UW), Olivia Markezich (Notre Dame)

4:27 pm – 400m Hurdles Final – Stephanie Cho (WSU)

4:43 pm – Heptathlon 800m – Ida Eikeng & Lyndsey Lopes (UW)

4:55 pm – 5000m Final – Haley Herberg (UW)

The live results and time schedule is available here.

NEWS AND NOTES

In a text sent to editor Paul Merca, Gonzaga University coach Pat Tyson revealed that James Mwaura's entry into the US Olympic Trials in the 10000 meters was denied.

Mwaura, who finished ninth in a personal best and Gonzaga school record 27:50.44 Wednesday night, was denied entry by USA Track & Field because his entry into the meet was after the entry deadline of 6 pm Pacific on Tuesday the 8th.

Tyson has apparently filed paperwork with USATF on this matter.

Meanwhile, former Renton resident Devon Allen ventured to Florence, Italy for Thursday's Golden Gala meet, the third stop on the Wanda Diamond League series.

Allen finished fourth in the 110 hurdles, running 13.32, as Jamaica's Omar McLeod won in a world leading time of 13.01.

Results of the Golden Gala meet are available here.

NOTE: The NCAA, the USTFCCCA, the Wanda Diamond League, the University of Oregon, and the sports information offices of the University of Washington, Washington State University, Gonzaga University and Eastern Washington University contributed to this report.

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