UW vaulter Scott Toney & WSU 10000m runner Evans Kurui secure spots to Eugene...

COLLEGE STATION--Washington's Scott Toney (Paul Merca photo) became the first Husky to ensure his spot on the bus to Eugene, as he cleared 17-9.25 (5.42m) to finish in a tie for sixth at the NCAA West Regionals at E.B. Cushing Stadium on the campus of Texas A&M University Wednesday.

After opening at 16-11.5 (5.17m), he needed three tries at the next bar of 17-5.5 (5.32m), before clearing 17-9.25 (5.42m) on his second attempt.

Teammate Mathis Bresko bowed out with a best of 16-5.5 (5.02m).

In the 10000 meters, Washington State's Evans Kurui was up in the lead group for most of the race, before finishing fifth in 28:19.22 to comfortably earn his spot to Eugene.

Kurui was in a group that included Ishmael Kipkurui and Habtom Samuel of New Mexico, Ernest Cheruiyot of Texas Tech, and Denis Kipngetich of Oklahoma State for all but the last 800, when the two New Mexico runners began to pull away.

Kipkurui and Samuel finished 1-2 in 28:09.32 and 28:09.33. 

With the top 12 going to nationals, Kurui had about a 3.5 second cushion in front of the final spot for the national championships.

Washington's Tyrone Gorze was 23rd in 29:05.33, while teammate Jamar Distel was 33rd in 29:33.15, one spot in front of WSU's Josphat Meli in 29:36.63. Two places behind Meli was Big Ten 10000 champ Evan Jenkins of the Huskies in 29:43.62.

Gonzaga's Wil Smith was 40th in 29:50.05, and Gig Harbor native Bradley Peloquin of Portland was 46th in 31:12.92.

In one of the biggest surprises of the day, Ridgefield native Trey Knight of Cal State Northridge, a two-time All American in the hammer, did not get a mark, fouling all three attempts.

Washington's Martin Barco had the top time in the 1500, winning heat 3 in 3:44.91, as the top nine from that heat all advanced to Friday's second round.

Nathan Green was second in heat 4 in 3:50.66.

Rhys Hammond (3:51.50) and Ronan McMahon-Staggs (3:56.13) were surprise non-qualifiers. Hammond was seventh in heat 4, while McMaohon-Staggs finished sixth in heat 2. Yakima native Jonas Price of Portland was eighth in his heat in 3:58.32.

Bellingham native Jacob Andrews from USC ran the third fastest time of the day in the 400, finishing third in his heat in 45.54. Grant Buckmiller of Washington State was eighth in his heat in 47.27.

Both Washington entries in the 800 advanced to Friday's second round, as Kyle Reinheimer (1:47.32) and Justin O'Toole (1:48.32 PB) went 1-3 in heat 5.

Washington's Bodi Ligons finished fifth in his heat of the 400 hurdles, running 51.11 to get one of the six time qualifying spots for Friday's second round. In the same heat, Washington's Matthew Wilkinson was eighth in 52.47.

In the 110 hurdles, John Paredes of Washington State advanced to Friday's second round, finishing 13.72 to finish fifth in his heat of the 110 hurdles. Parker Duskin (13.84) was the odd man out of a time qualifying position, while Maddy Shekhawat of Eastern Washington ran 13.96.

Mason Lawyer of Washington State had the ninth fastest time of the day in the 100, running 10.32. Teammate Bryson Stubblefield did not advance, running 10.53.

Lawyer finished second in his heat of the 200, earning an automatic qualifying spot to Friday's second round, running 20.79.

OTHER HIGHLIGHTS:

--Washington State's Blake Sturgis was three spots away from qualifying for nationals, finishing 15th with a best of 222-10 (67.92m). Carson Olmstead of Washington was 31st in 206-9 (63.02m), while teammate Jack Olsen was 45th at 186-3 (56.76m).

--Washington's Prestin Artis could not duplicate the magic that saw him qualify for nationals, as he was 17th in the long jump at 24-5.75 (7.46m).

In the NCAA East Regional in Jacksonville, Florida, there was a weather delay which pushed the meet back. 

Eastern Washington alum Ryan Rieckmann, now a grad student at Cincinnati, finished tenth in the javelin to qualify for the national championships, throwing 222-9 (67.90m).

First round action saw Bellingham native Andre Korbmacher of Florida State qualified for Friday's second round in the 110 hurdles, running 13.83 to finish third in his heat. In the 400, Seattle native Will Floyd of Georgia finished second in his heat to easily qualify for the second round on Friday, running 45.54, the third fastest time of the day.

The women take over the track Thursday, using the same format as the men in Wednesday's competition: first rounds in all of the lane races, plus the 1500, and the hammer, javelin, long jump, javelin, and shot puts will be contested as a semifinal.

Complete results of day 1 of the NCAA West Regionals are available here, while day 1 of the East Regionals are available here.

NOTE: The NCAA and the USTFCCCA contributed to this report.

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