EUGENE, Ore.—Arizona State track and field’s senior Shelby Houlihan automatically qualified for the finals in the 1500m run during the women’s semifinal competition on Thursday at the 2015 NCAA Outdoor Track and Field Championships at Hayward Field.
“When you look at the day, obviously the highlight is Shelby Houlihan,” Director of Track and Field Greg Kraft said. “The way she performed today puts her in a good position for Saturday’s final.”
The defending champion won the opening heat at 4:16.87, and was the second-fastest time on the day. The Sioux City, Iowa, native will run in the finals on Saturday at 2:15 p.m. PT. At 4 p.m. PT on Saturday, Houlihan will run in the finals of the 5000m run.
“It was fine, the race felt good,” Houlihan said. “I’m definitely looking for the win on Saturday. I don’t know how I’m going to run it yet, but I’m just going to do what I do and hope for the win.”
Also for the Sun Devils, senior Brianna Tate earned Second-Team All-America honors in the 400m dash, finishing 13th overall at 52.91. This is her fourth career All-America honor.
In the semifinals of the 4x100m relay, junior Jasmine Gibbs, Tate, senior Sara McDonald, and sophomore LaTroya Franklin placed 20th overall at 45.09. McDonald, Franklin, freshman Melese Crozier, and Tate ran 3:40.06 in the 4x400m relay semifinals, finishing 19th overall.
In the field, redshirt freshman Magdalyn Ewen placed 22nd in the shot put finals with a best throw of 14.97m (49-1.50). Ewen will be in action on Saturday in the finals of the discus, which is scheduled to start at 1:35 p.m. PT.
On Friday, three Sun Devils will be in action in the field, led by redshirt senior Bryan McBride, who will look to defend his high jump title, starting at 4 p.m. PT. Redshirt senior Michael Ohakwe will be in the discus finals at 4:05 p.m. PT, while junior Josh Dixon will compete in the triple jump finals at 4:30 p.m. PT.
Arizona State Results
Women’s 400m Dash Semifinals
13. Brianna Tate – 52.91 (Second Team All-American)
Women’s 1500m Run Semifinals
2. Shelby Houlihan – 4:16.87 (Qualifies for Saturday’s finals)
Women’s 4x100m Relay Semifinals
20. Gibbs, Tate, McDonald, Franklin – 45.09
Women’s 4x400m Relay Semifinals
19. McDonald, Franklin, Crozier, Tate – 3:40.06
Women’s Shot Put Finals
22. Magdalyn Ewen – 14.97m (49-1.50)
More From Houlihan:
“The 5000m was a last-minute decision, I was looking at the schedule and it’s my last NCAA meet, so I might as well do it. I’m going to try it and we’ll see how it goes. I felt good when I did it at Pac-12s, so I hope I can feel the same way with the double on Saturday. I just really love to race. It doesn’t matter if it’s the 400m dash or the 10000m, I just love racing. Then it’s the 1500m at USAs, I’m hoping the make the World Team. We’ll see how it goes.”