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Cougs' Maribel Caicedo runs sixth fastest time in world this season in first round at NCAA West Regionals...


FAYETTEVILLE, Arkansas--It was only a first round heat, but Washington State's Maribel Caicedo (Paul Merca photo) made a statement in the fifth heat of the 100 hurdles on day 2 of the NCAA Division I Men's and Women's Outdoor Track & Field preliminary round at John McDonnell Field on the campus of the University of Arkansas.

Caicedo, who broke her own Washington State school record two weeks ago at the Pac-12 championships in Boulder when she ran 12.61 in the semifinals, rocketed away from the field from lane 8, making it seem effortless. 

Her winning time of 12.49 seconds was not only a school record, but also a facility record, the fastest collegiate time the season and the sixth-fastest time in the world this year, in additional to lowering her Ecuador and South American records.


In a separate heat, teammate Micaela De Mello set a personal best of 12.85 to get the win, and knock on the door of the Olympic qualifying standard of 12.77.

Both return Saturday for the second round with a potential trip to Eugene for the NCAA championship finals in two weeks.

The final event of day 2 saw Lake Stevens native Taylor Roe of Oklahoma State win the 10000 meters in 33:46.23 as the field battled through the heat and high humidity.

Gonzaga's Rosina Machu became the second woman in school history to advance to the national final with her 34:03.97 to finish third.  Former Husky Sarah Carter of Colorado State finished tenth in 34:21.81 to advance to Eugene. 

Washington's Haley Herberg was 16th in 34:52.44, while Gonzaga's Kristen Garcia ran 35:09.52 for 27th.

In the women's pole vault, Washington's Amanda Moll (6th), twin sister Hana (7th), and Nastassja Campbell (11th) all advanced to the national championships with a clearance of 14-1.25 (4.30m), with places decided on fewer misses.

UW All-American Sara Borton was 16th at 13-9.25 (4.20m), with WSU's Tatum Moku 17th at the same height. Savannah Schultz of Eastern Washington cleared 13-5.5 (4.10m) for 29th, while WSU's Eva Lowder didn't clear a height.

Washington State's Nana Gyedu threw a school record 56-6.5 (17.23m) in the shot put to finish eighth and earn a spot in Eugene in two weeks. Washington's Kaia Tupu-South threw 55-5.5 (16.90m) to finish 15th, three spots out of the cut line.

Perhaps the biggest heartbreak moment among Washington athletes competing Thursday belonged to Eastern Washington's Egypt Simmons.

Despite breaking the school record in the long jump with a leap of 21-4.75 (6.52m), Simmons ended up 15th, as five jumpers had the identical mark for the twelfth and final spot to nationals.

Alexandria Johnson of Arizona State got the final spot to Eugene with her second best mark of 21-1.25 (6.43m), as opposed to Simmons' second best mark of 20-8 (6.30m).

Kimberly Smith of the Eagles was 45th at 18-6.5 (5.65m).

In the women's javelin, Husky senior Natalie Holmer threw a personal best of 159-7 (48.65m) on the final throw of her UW career to finish 21st, while Washington State's Laura Lindquist threw 146-0 (44.51m) for 41st.

The women's hammer saw UW's Beatrice Asomaning finish 30th at 184-11 (56.36m), while King's HS graduate Adrianna Coleman of Cal finished 46th with a throw of 170-10 (52.08m).

In other first round running events Thursday, Chloe Foerster of Washington finisher first in her heat of the 1500 in 4:19.05, while teammate Sophie O'Sullivan ran 4:20.35 to take second despite being ninth at the bell and having to run a 61.42 last 400 to secure her spot in Saturday's second round.

In the women's 800, Washington's Samantha Friborg won her heat in 2:04.09. Eastside Catholic grad Kate Jendrezak of UCLA ran 2:03.14 for second in her heat. Wilma Nielsen of UW ran 2:07.54 for third in her heat, while the Cougars' Maya McCabe, a grad transfer from SeattleU, ran 2:06.29 to get fifth and a time qualifier for Saturday.

The men return to the track Friday with action involving Washington athletes in the 1500, steeple, 110 hurdles, 400 hurdles, 5000, and Washington State's 4 x 400 relay on the track; as well as first round action on the field in the discus, high jump, and triple jump.


Remember that ESPN+ (subscription required) is providing streaming of the meet.

At the NCAA Division I East Regional preliminary round in Lexington, Kentucky, Bear Creek School and University of Washington grad Andrea Markezich qualified for her first NCAA track championship final, as she finished sixth in the 10000.

Markezich, who joined her twin sister Olivia at Notre Dame, ran 33:03.22, as Florida's Parker Valby won in 32:43.91.

Olivia competes Saturday in the steeplechase, where she's the defending NCAA champion.


SEATTLE PACIFIC'S ANNIKA ESVELT FINISHES SECOND IN NCAA D2 10000...

In Emporia, Kansas, Seattle Pacific's Annika Esvelt finished second in the finals of the 10000 at the NCAA Division II championships at Welch Stadium on the campus of Emporia State University.

Esvelt was in a group of seven runners through the first half of the race. Approaching the 2500 meter mark remaining in the race, the group of seven was whittled down to four, then dropped to three with 1200 meters left.

Eventual winner Florance Uwajeneza of West Texas A&M and Esvelt over the last two laps, but a final lap of 70.69 by Uwajeneza gave her the win in a time of 34:14.47 to Esvelt's 34:18.07, as she could only answer with a 74.08 last 400.

In the only other final involving a Washington athlete, Central Washington's Lauryn McGough finished in a tie for tenth in the women's pole vault, clearing 12-7.5 (3.85m).

The men's steeple qualifying round saw Western Washington's Jeret Gillingham finish second in his heat, running 9:02.74 to advance to Friday's final. In the women's steeple, Ila Davis of Western Washington was second in her heat, running 10:39.94 to advance, while teammate Ashley Reeck was a non-advancing ninth in her heat in 11:16.39.

Central Washington's E'lexis Hollis was fifth in her first round heat of the 100 meters in 11.46, and did not advance.

Friday, Gillingham and Davis run in the finals of the men's and women's steeplechase at 5:15 and 5:30 pm, Pacific. 

Also competing Friday are Seattle Pacific's Hannah Chang in the first round of the women's 100 hurdles, along with Central Washington's Johan Correa and Western's Drew Weber in the men's 800. The Vikings' Marian Ledesma runs in the first round of the women's 800.


NOTE: The NCAA and the sports information offices of the University of Arkansas, University of Washington, Washington State, Gonzaga, Eastern Washington, Seattle Pacific, Western Washington, Central Washington, and Emporia State University  contributed to this report.

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