May 24, 2013
NCAA WEST PRELIM HOME
AUSTIN, Texas - The Arizona State University track and field team overcame a six-hour rain delay to earn three qualifications to the NCAA Championships in Eugene, Ore., following the second day of competition at the NCAA West Preliminaries in Austin, Texas, on Friday.
Following torrential downpours and a large thunderstorm that swept over Mike A. Myers Stadium beginning around 1 p.m. CT that delayed action until 8 p.m., several Sun Devils were able to collect themselves and post impressive marks on the day. Friday events concluded at 1:04 a.m. CT.
Ryan Milus became the first to punch his ticket on the day in the 100-meter dash, taking third in his heat in 10.44 to automatically advance to Eugene. It will be Milus' first trip the NCAA Outdoor Championship in his career.
Shortly after that, Jordan Clarke wrapped up his day after two pedestrian throws by his standards in the men's shot put as he accepted his best mark of 18.61m (61-00.75), which was the seventh-best throw of the day and more than enough to advance the four-time NCAA Champion to Oregon.
And shortly after Clarke withdrew from the competition, Anna Jelmini picked up the third qualification of the day, as she took second in the women's discus throw with a best mark of 54.12m (177-06).
Her performance was notable as the discus was actually delayed for approximately seven hours before Jelimini got a chance to step into the ring.
Following the three-hour rain delay for running events, Cameron Taylor came out and earned an automatic qualifying spot in tomorrow's 110-meter hurdle quarterfinals with his third-place finish in his heat in 14.21. The top 12 in tomorrow's action will advance to Eugene.
In the semifinals of the women's 400-meter dash, Brianna Tate was unable to advance to the national meet as her time of 54.30 was only good for 19th and the sophomore was not among the top-12 finishers.
Asiah Gooden lived to fight another day as the junior overcame a tough week as far as her body was concerned to earn one of the sixth qualifying spots in tomorrow's 200-meter dash quarterfinal. Gooden clocked a time of 24.01 in her heat to finish fourth and that was the 23rd-best time of the prelim round, with the top 24 advancing to tomorrow.
In the women's pole vault, Heather Arseneau and Shaylah Simpson finished tied for 36th overall and did not advance.
In the throws, Joe Riccio (shot put) and Alex Hartig (discus) also did not advance while neither Christabel Nettey nor Ke'Nya Hardge advanced in the women's 100-meter hurdles, though Nettey already punched her ticket to nationals in the long jump yesterday.
In the final event of the day, with the gun going off just after 12:30 p.m. CT, Garrett Baker-Slama took 36th in the men's steeplechase in 9:09.69 and did not advance.
The final day of action will take place on Saturday in an eventful day that will see all four Sun Devil relays in action, as well as the 1,500 and 5,000-meter runs in addition to those that advanced from today.
Field events will begin at 10 a.m. CT with the men's hammer throw, which was postponed today. The running events are slated to get underway at 6 p.m. CT with the 4x100-meter relays.