LAWRENCE, Kansas -- After the first day of the NCAA West Regionals was postponed due to rain and storms throughout Kansas, the Arizona State track and field program entered day two with a tight schedule and more weather delays in the forecast.
Despite the lightning and rain delays on Friday, three of the 10 competing Sun Devils punched their tickets to the NCAA Championships in Eugene, Ore. from June 8-11.
Redshirt sophomore Maggie Ewen, freshman Hudson Keffer and redshirt junior CJ Albertson all qualified for the biggest meet of the season in their respective events through the rain, wind and lightning at Rock Chalk Park.
In the women's hammer throw, Ewen not only qualified for the championships with her second-place finish, but she also broke the Pac-12 and ASU record in the event with a mark of 70.50m (231-03). The conference record of 70.18m (230-03) was previously held by USC's Eva Orban set in 2008. The ASU record was set by Chelsea Cassulo in 2013 at 70.07m (229-11).
"Maggie was phenomenal yesterday in the hammer," said throwing coach David Dumble. "All three throws were over her existing personal record, but having a 15-foot improvement really takes the cake. She was suppposed to throw on Thursday, but has been patient with all of the lightning delays. It took her a few throws to find her rhythm, but when she did, it was impressive. A new school record and Pac-12 record as a sophomore really speaks to how big a throw it was."
Also in the throwing events on Friday, Keffer put together a fifth-place finish in a tough javelin throw field. The rookie was composed and threw for a mark of 70.73m (232-00).
On the soaked track, it was only fitting the men's 3,000-meter steeplechase took place with Albertson clinching the final qualifying spot in the event with a time of 8:51.29. It wasn't his fastest time of the season, but it was just enough to qualify for NCAA Championships.
In the men's 100-meter dash, Pac-12 champion and graduate transfer Reggie Lewis was unfortunately on the wrong side of the cut line. While his time qualified him as the 12th-fastest runner in the event, the 13th-fastest runner finished with one of the top two spots in his heat. The 11th-fastest runner, who finished just ahead of Lewis in their heat, beat him by one thousandths of a second -- or a millisecond (.001).
The equivalent to that time is the duration of light in a typical photo flash strobe.
Ewen's discus throw event was delayed due to storms rolling in again on Friday night, thus moving her third heat to Saturday morning.
You can see the adjusted schedule here for Saturday.
NCAA West Regional Lawrence, Kansas May 26-28, 2016
FIELD EVENTS
Women's Hammer Throw
2. Maggie Ewen - 70.50m (231-03)q
36. Ginger Jarchow - 55.34m (181-07)
Men's Hammer Throw
30. Kyle Long - 59.44m (195-00)
Men's Javelin Throw
5. Hudson Keffer - 70.73m (232-00)q
Men's Pole Vault
32. Nathan Hiett - 4.98m (16-4.00)
TRACK EVENTS
Men's 3,000m Steeplechase
12. CJ Albertson - 8:51.29q
Women's 100m Dash Prelims
18. Jasmine Gibbs - 11.60
Men's 100m Dash Prelims
12. Reggie Lewis - 10.33
35. Isaiah Underwood - 10.59
Women's 400m Dash
33. Sierra Irvin - 55.56
42. LaTroya Franklin - 56.19