Chandler Ault throws huge personal best to finish second in javelin to open NCAAs...
EUGENE--Washington senior Chandler Ault (Paul Merca photo) made the most of the final few rounds, as he moved from fifth to second with a big personal best to open day 1 of the NCAA Division I Track & Field Championships at Hayward Field on the campus of the University of Oregon.
While he was comfortably in the top eight through the first three rounds, his best throw of the preliminary round was only 242-9, in contrast to his last two meets, where he started fast, throwing over 250 feet at both the Pac-12s and the NCAA West Regionals.
Ault got over the 250-foot mark in round 4, improving from 242-9 (79.31m) in the prelims to 250-4 (76.30m).
However, Ault put everything together in round 5, launching the spear a personal best 260-2 (79.31m) to break his own school record, and ties for the best NCAA finish by a Husky thrower since 1985.
Georgia's Marc Anthony Minichello won the competition with a second round throw of 264-9 (80.70m).
In the mixed zone, he said that he's had the ability to pop the big throw, but that it's been "a matter of synching things up, and finding the right meet with the right kind of adrenaline."
"At Pac-12s, we had the adrenaline, and it went far, but technically it wasn't quite there. However on the last two throws, the adrenaline was there and the technique lined up, even though I fouled the last round."
He feels like he's peaking at the right time, thanks to some changes in training done over the off season, including throwing heavy balls in practice.
In the pole vault, UW grad student Max Manson, who had qualified for the NCAA championships while at Stanford, finally earned a top-eight podium finish, ending with a five-way tie for eighth with a clearance of 17-7.25 (5.37m).
Penn's Scott Toney, who will attend the UW this fall as a grad transfer, finished 13th at 17-7.5 (5.37m).
Keaton Daniel of Kentucky won the pole vault, clearing 18-7.25 (5.67m).
The hammer saw Ridgefield HS product Trey Knight of Cal State Northridge and Rainier HS grad Jeremiah Nubbe of Texas finish sixth and ninth.
Knight had a best of 242-9 (74.00m), while Nubbe threw 233-6 (71.17m), as Cal's Rowan Hamilton won with a throw of 253-2 (77.18m).
In the only final involving a Washington product, the Huskies' Prestin Artis finished 19th in the long jump, with a best of 24-1.75 (7.36m), as JC Stevenson of USC won with a jump of 26-11.75 (8.22m).
In qualifying action, all three Washington 1500 meter runners--Nathan Green, Luke Houser, and Joe Waskom advanced to Friday's final out of heat 2, with Green finishing fourth in 3:37.51, Houser fifth in 3:37.53, and Waskom getting the final time qualifier in seventh at 3:37.93.
Former Washington State Cougar Louie Hinchliffe, now competing for the Houston Cougars, had the fastest time of the day in the 100 meters, running 10.09 to advance to Friday's final. He also ran the second leg on Houston's 4x100 relay, as the Coogs ran 38.48.
It was a rough go for Washington's Jonathan Birchman, who ran 51.05 to finish eighth in the first heat of the 400 hurdles.
Cashmere native Rob McManus of Montana State was the fastest non-qualifying runner in the two heats of the 3000 steeple, as he was nosed out at the finish by Northeastern's Alexander Korczynski, 8:33.13 to 8:33.43
In the first day of the decathlon, Washington's Jami Schlueter stands seventh with 4075 points, while Washington State's Lee Walburn is 11th with 3976 points.
Schlueter's day included a 10.79 100m run; a 23-3.5 (7.10m) long jump; a throw of 47-9.75 (14.57m) in the shot; a clearance of 6-3.5 (1.92m) in the high jump, and a time of 49.56 in the 400.
For Walburn, who won the NAIA decathlon title at Carroll (Montana) two years ago, he ran 10.85 in the 100; jumped 21-4 (6.50m) in the long jump; threw 49-2.5 (15.00m) in the shot; made 6-2.25 (1.92m) in the high jump; and ran 48.40 in the 400.
Texas' German standout Leo Neugebauer, who set the collegiate record at last year's NCAA championship meet, leads at the break with 4685 points.
The meet resumes Thursday with the women taking over Hayward Field along with the second day of the decathlon.
Here's who's competing Thursday with Washington ties:
11:30 am 110 Hurdles MEN Decathlon Jami Schlueter (UW) Lee Walburn (WSU)
12:20 pm Discus MEN Decathlon Jami Schlueter, Lee Walburn
1:30 pm Pole Vault MEN Decathlon Jami Schlueter, Lee Walburn
4:00 pm Javelin MEN Decathlon Jami Schlueter, Lee Walburn
5:46 pm 1500 Meters WOMEN Semifinals Chloe Foerster, Sophie O'Sullivan (all UW)
6:00 pm Pole Vault WOMEN Final Hana Moll, Amanda Moll, Nastassja Campbell (all UW)
6:32 pm 100 Hurdles WOMEN Semifinals Maribel Caicedo, Micaela De Mello (all WSU)
7:14 pm 800 Meters WOMEN Semifinals Kate Jendrezak (UCLA)
8:08 pm 10000 Meters WOMEN Final Rosina Machu (Gonzaga), Andrea Markezich (Notre Dame), Taylor Roe (Okla. St), Sarah Carter (Colorado St.)
8:48 pm 4 x 400 Relay WOMEN Semifinals Kate Jendrezak (UCLA)
7:40 pm Shot Put WOMEN Final Nana Gyedu (WSU)
7:56 pm 1500 Meters MEN Decathlon Jami Schlueter, Lee Walburn
Coverage continues on the networks of ESPN, either streaming on ESPN+ or televised on ESPN2.
- Thursday will air on ESPN2 from 5:30 to 9 pm PT
- Friday will air on ESPN2 from 6pm to 8:30 pm PT
- Saturday will air on ESPN2 from 2:30 pm to 5 pm PT
The combined events and field events will have dedicated live streams on ESPN+.
NOTE: The NCAA and the sports information offices of Gonzaga, Washington, Washington State and Oregon contributed to this report.
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