The NCAA indoor track & field championships begin Friday in Birmingham and Pittsburg...


BIRMINGHAM, Alabama--
At this time in 2021, we were preparing for the craziest few days of track and cross country, as the NCAA Division I indoor track & field championships were getting ready in Fayetteville, Arkansas, with the NCAA cross country championships a few days later in Stillwater, Oklahoma.

Fortunately this year, that scenario isn't happening, as the NCAA cross country championships were contested back at its normal time back in November, and the indoor championships return on a two-day schedule starting Friday, at the CrossPlex in Birmingham (photo courtesy Birmingham CrossPlex).

Live championship coverage will be streamed on ESPN3.  A re-air of the meet will take place Sunday, March 13 on ESPNU starting at 6:30 pm. To access the live stream, visit ESPN3.com.

The Huskies' entries get rolling right off the bat at 2 pm, as Jayden White looks to improve upon his tenth place finish in the 35-pound weight throw. At the same time that White throws, Washington State's Colton Johnsen and Tacoma native Jack Yearian of Oregon run in the semis of the mile.

At 2:55 pm, Sam Brixey of WSU goes in the semis of the 60 hurdles, while Brian Fay of the Huskies goes in the 5000 meter run ten minutes later.

At 3:45 pm, Washington's number one ranked distance medley relay team of Luke Houser, Anthony Smith, Cass Elliott and Joe Waskom goes in its attempt to win a national title in that event, even though they will have to do it without Fay's services, as he's entered in the 5000.

Friday night's session begins at 5pm, as Anna Gibson and Madison Heisterman of Washington try to qualify for Saturday's finals in the mile.

Just over an hour later, Haley Herberg runs the 5000, and Friday's evening session ends with the distance medley relay at 6:45 pm, with the Huskies running a team of Taylor Chiotti, Victoria Gersch, Carley Thomas and Allie Schadler, though the entry lists have both Heisterman and Gibson on the team. Teams do not have to declare their final lineups until an hour before the race.

Also running in the distance medley relay is former Seattle Pacific All-American Kaylee Mitchell for Oregon State, and Woodinville native Olivia Markezich for Notre Dame.

Saturday's session starts with the men's mile at 2 pm, and the men's 60 hurdles final 40 minutes later.

Colton Johnsen returns for the second half of his mile/3000 double at 3 pm.

The women's session starts at 5 pm with the mile finals. One hour later, Mitchell and Lake Stevens native Taylor Roe of Oklahoma State run in the finals of the 3000 meters.

The home page for the NCAA Division I track and field championships is available here, with links to live results, start lists, and the time schedule.

In Pittsburg, Kansas, the NCAA Division II championships get underway Friday at the Robert W. Plaster Center on the campus of Pittsburg State, with three athletes with Washington ties competing.

Friday, Mac Franks of Western Washington goes in the third of three semifinal races in the 800 meters at 2:40 pm, as he looks to advance to Saturday's final at 4:25 pm.

Seattle Pacific's Annika Esvelt runs in the finals of the women's 5000 at 4:15 pm.

Western Washington's Beau Sheeran competes in the finals of the men's high jump Saturday at 1:30 pm.

The home page for the NCAA Division II championships is available here.

Streaming coverage of the NCAA Division II championships is available here.

DILLON MAGGARD LOOKING TO RAISE FUNDS TO FLY HIS COACH & FAMILY TO WORLD INDOOR CHAMPS IN BELGRADE...


Kirkland native and Lake Washington HS grad Dillon Maggard (Paul Merca photo), who finished third at the USATF Indoor Championships in the 3000 meters in Spokane, is looking for some assistance to help defray travel expenses for his coach and family to attend the world indoor championships in Belgrade, Serbia March 18-20th.

Maggard, who made his first world championship team, is competing this season without the benefit of an equipment sponsorship, after his sponsorship deal with Hoka One One ended December 31st.

Here's his post on Instagram:

Here's the link to his GoFundMe page.

Any help from the track and field community and from the readership is greatly appreciated.

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

paulmerca.blogspot.com may receive a commission for any purchases made from links clicked. Please support this site and our sponsors by clicking on the links. 

Comments