May 29, 2009
Eugene, Ore. - On the first day of the NCAA West Regional the Cardinal earned four automatic qualifiers to the NCAA Championships. Most of the finals will take place tomorrow at historic Hayward Field on the campus of the University of Oregon. The NCAA Outdoor Track and Field Championships take place June 10-13, in Fayetteville, Ark.
Laurynne Chetelat earned her ticket to the NCAA Championships with a fifth-place finish in the 5,000 meters. Chetelat ran a time of 16:26.68 to automatically qualify. Kate Niehaus finished just behind Chetelat in sixth with a time of 16:30.64. She will have to wait until the at-large selections are announced on Tuesday to see if she will advance. Also competing in the event were Stephanie Marcy who finished 10th and Georgia Griffin who finished 11th.
The other NCAA qualifiers on the day for came in the throws as Jaynie Goodbody in the hammer and Michaela Wallerstedt in the discus both advanced. Goodbody will return to the NCAA Championships, having competed in the same event last year. She placed fourth with a throw of 191-4 for automatic qualification. Wallerstedt had a career-best toss of 167-4 to place fourth and return to the NCAA's as well.
The Cardinal were well represented in the long jump with four women competing and two advancing to the final. Unfortunately, none finished in the top five and will have to await the at-large bids. Griffin Matthew led the Cardinal with her seventh-place finish and a leap of 20-3 ¾. Whitney Liehr also made the final and placed ninth with a jump of 20-1 ½.
Failing to make the final after fouling in two of her three attempts was Arantxa King who placed tenth with a jump of 19-8 ¾. King entered the meet with the sixth best mark in the nation, but now will have to rely on an at-large bid. Brittni Dixon-Smith also missed the final with a jump of 19-8.
In the prelims, the Cardinal were led by three women in the 1,500 meters. Alicia Follmar, Lauren Centrowitz and Madeline Duhon all advanced out of the prelims and will compete in tomorrow's final. Follmar (4:23.78) and Centrowitz (4:23.79) ran in the first heat and finished second and third, respectively, to cruise into the final. Duhon advanced out of the second heat after running a time of 4:27.80.
Also advancing to a final tomorrow was Shataya Hendricks in the 100 meters. Hendricks ran her collegiate best of 11.65 seconds to claim the eighth and final spot in the final. Griffin Matthew finished just behind Hendricks and will not advance after making it all the way to the NCAA's in the same event last season.
Also competing, but failing to advance out of the prelims were Claire Cormier Thielke in the 800 meters and Idara Otu in the 400-meter hurdles. Both women finished in the ninth position, while only eight advanced.
Katerina Stefanidi also competed in pole vault, but did not clear the opening height.
Chris <!>Derrick |
The men were led by Chris Derrick in the 5,000 meters after placing fourth to earn a trip to the NCAA Championships. Derrick ran a time of 13:53.81 continue his brilliant freshman season at Stanford as he will attempt to capture a fourth All-America honor of the year, having already captured three in cross country and indoor track.
Elliott Heath also competed in the 5,000 meters and finished sixth with a time of 14:01.47. Heath entered the day with the ninth best time in the nation and will await his fate Tuesday when the at-large bids are announced.
Competing in the prelims and advancing as the top qualifier in the 400-meter hurdles was Amaechi Morton. Morton won his heat in a time of 50.37 as he looks to qualify for his first NCAA meet on Saturday.
Myles Bradley won his heat in the 110-meter hurdles to advance to the final on Saturday with a time of 13.65. He will be the second qualifier in the event where he owns the Stanford school record. J.J. Jackson also competed in the event and despite running a personal best of 14.12, will not advance to the final. The time for Jackson also moves him into sixth on the Stanford all-time list.
Also moving on to a final tomorrow is Garrett Heath in the 1,500 meters. Heath won his heat in a time of 3:52.44 and will attempt to defend his regional title in the same event from 2008. Also competing in the 1,500 meters was Jacob Evans, but did not advance to the final.
In the 4x100-meter relay, the Stanford team of Daniel Belch, Tyrone McGraw, Zach Chandy and Ryan Fisicaro placed third in their heat to advance as the fifth qualifier to the final.
Competing in the prelims, but failing to advance was Zach Chandy in the 200 meters. Geoffrey Tabor also competed in the final of the shot put, setting a personal best of 55-9, but finished ninth and will not advance to the NCAA meet.
The Cardinal will complete the NCAA West Regional tomorrow, May 30, at Hayward Field. Several more Stanford athletes will attempt to automatically qualify for the NCAA meet.