Barrios Bornacelli, Barton & Herberg get e-tickets to Eugene scanned at NCAA regionals...

FAYETTEVILLE, Arkansas--The women took center stage on Day 2 of the NCAA West Preliminary Round at John McDonnell Field on the campus of the University of Arkansas, ending with a trio of athletes with Washington ties getting their E-tickets to the NCAA track & field championship finals in Eugene scanned Thursday.

Washington State freshman javelin thrower Valentina Barrios Bornacelli (Paul Merca photo) threw 166-1 (50.63m) in the first round to finish 11th overall.

She joins teammate and Pac-12 pole vault champion Jacob Englar, who qualified Wednesday night.

Washington's Pac-12 pole vault champ Makenna Barton cleared a season best 13-5.75 (4.11m) on her third attempt to finish tenth and advance to Eugene.

Before reaching 13-3.75, Barton was clean on her first two heights, which were crucial in her quest to advance to the national championship final. Seven athletes cleared 13-3.75, but only six advanced to Eugene, based on fewer misses at the previous heights.

Haley Herberg of the Huskies advanced to her second straight NCAA final in the 10000, as the 2021 All-American in this event finished fourth, running 33:40.11.

In qualifying action Thursday, Washington State's Micaela De Mello advanced to Saturday's second round in the 100 hurdles, running 13.24 to finish third in her heat.

The Huskies' Madison Heisterman (4:18.87), Anna Gibson (4:20.82), and Sophie O'Sullivan (4:21.12), advanced to Saturday's second round in the 1500, as did Gonzaga's Alicia Anderson (4:18.53). Pac-12 800m champ Carley Thomas (2:06.00) advanced.

The meet continues Friday, with the conclusion of the men's competition, before the women wrap up on Saturday.

Day 2 results are available here.

ESVELT FINIHSES FOURTH IN 10000 AT NCAA D2 CHAMPS...

In Allendale, Michigan at the Grand Valley State Lacrosse/Track & Field Stadium, Seattle Pacific's Annika Esvelt finished fourth in the women's 10000 to earn All-America honors on the first day of the NCAA Division II Track & Field Championships hosted by Grand Valley State.

After waiting out a lengthy rain and lightning delay and a late trip to the start line (9:55 p.m. local time), Esvelt went with the leaders and never lost contact. She spent most of the race in either third or fourth place and was no more than a second behind the leaders until the final two laps. Esvelt finished in a time of 33:51.65, moving her to No. 4 on the GNAC all-time list in the event. She is one of just four women’s athletes in GNAC history to run under 34 minutes in the 10,000.

Western Washington senior Calahan Warren qualified for Saturday’s final in the 1,500 thanks to a fast second preliminaries heat that saw the top eight finishers all go under 3:45.

Warren ran 3:43.68 to finish sixth in the heat and advance as a time qualifier.

The odd man out was Western Washington junior Mac Franks, who was the first man left out of the finals. He finished fifth in the first heat and 13th overall in a time of 3:47.58 and just missed out on one of the four automatic qualifying positions.

Seattle Pacific senior Vanessa Aniteye qualified for Saturday’s final in the women’s 400 meters after she turned in a lifetime best time of 54.18 seconds to finish second in the second heat, earning an automatic qualifying spot. Aniteye set the SPU record in the process and improved her No. 3 position on the GNAC all-time list.

In the women’s steeplechase, Western Washington freshman Ila Davis just missed qualifying for the finals as she placed 13th in a time of 10:36.24. 

The Falcons’ women’s 4x100-meter relay team of senior Peace Igbonagwam, Aniteye, sophomore Aniya Green and senior Jenna Bouyer just missed Saturday’s final, finishing 10th in a time of 46.30 seconds that ranks No. 4 on the GNAC all-time list. Igbonagwam went on finish 16th in the women’s long jump with a leap of 18-4.5 (5.60m).

Drew Weber is the only Washington athlete competing Friday, as he will compete for the Vikings in the prelims of the 800m.

The link to live results and the time schedule is available here.

PRE CLASSIC BEGINS FRIDAY NIGHT WITH USA 10000m CHAMPIONSHIP...

The Wanda Diamond League makes its second stop of the season at Eugene's Hayward Field for the Nike Prefontaine Classic Friday and Saturday.

Added to the meet is the USA 10000 meter championship with spots to July's world track and field championships in the event on the line to give athletes who qualify ample recovery time before racing in July back at Hayward Field.

The top three finishers who have the world championships standard of 27:28.00 (men)/31:25.00 (women) will comprise Team USA at the world championships. If an athlete finishes in the top three and does not have the standard, they can chase the standard before the closing date of June 26th.

Lake Washington HS grad Dillon Maggard is the only athlete with Washington ties entered in the 10000m championship race. He's entered with a time of 27:37.26.

Going in to the championships, only seven entries--Grant Fisher, Woody Kincaid, Sean McGorty, Emmanuel Bor, Joe Klecker, Shadrack Kipchirchir, and Conner Mantz hold the standard, so Maggard would have to break 27:28 AND finish in the top 3 to be on the world championship team.

In addition to Friday's national championship race, there will be a women's two mile, plus the men's and women's 5000, all three of which are world record attempts.

Washington alum Eleanor Fulton is entered in the 2 mile, while Seattle resident Rebecca Mehra is in the women's 5000, presumably as a pace setter. Rio Olympian and former Emerald Ridge HS standout Hassan Mead is entered in the men's 5000.

In Saturday's main event, UW volunteer coach Sam Prakel and UW 1500m school record holder Sam Tanner is entered in the 1500. Washington alum Katie Rainsberger is in the steeplechase, and Washington State alum CJ Allen is in the 400 hurdles.

Action at the Nike Prefontaine Classic starts Friday at 7:30 pm, and the women's high jump kicks off the Saturday portion at 12:20 pm.

Friday's action will be live streamed on USATF.tv ($). CNBC will have coverage of the Nike Prefontaine Classic Saturday beginning at 1:00 pm, before it goes over to NBC (KING 5 in Seattle) at 1:30 pm.

The start list for the Nike Prefontaine Classic is available here.

NOTE: The University of Arkansas sports information office, the Great Northwest Athletic Conference, the NCAA, the Wanda Diamond League, and the Nike Prefontaine Classic contributed to this report.

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