McHenry smashes 800m record to qualify for NCAA meet
Mason McHenry smashed his own school record in the 800m run and recorded one of three improved times as the Arizona State University track and field competed in a pair of last chance meets on Saturday, the final time athletes could qualify for the NCAA Championships next weekend. McHenry and Nectaly Barbosa each recorded improved times in the 800m run and the women’s 4x400m relay lowered their time with all three marks recorded at the Iowa State meet in Ames, Iowa.
For the second time this season, McHenry recorded the fastest time in school history, this time lowering his own personal-best by nearly 1.26 seconds with a winning time of 1:47.74. That time stands as the second-best in the nation this year and betters his previous school record of 1:49.00. Heading into the season, the record of 1:49.51 stood for 24 years after Treg Scott ran that time to finish in fifth place at the NCAA Championships in 1985. Barbosa, who lowered his personal-best indoor time to 1:49.44 in the race and finished second overall, moved into second on the all-time list at ASU, slipping past Scott.
The women’s 4x400m relay turned in a stellar outing of their own as the group of Dominique’ Maloy, Charonda Williams, Shauntel Elcock and Jeavon Benjamin ran a time of 3:35.86 and finishing fourth in the race. That time was nearly 15 seconds better than their season-opening effort of 3:50.22 and nearly five seconds better than their season best of 3:40.46. Williams also competed individually in the 60m dash, running 7.34 in the preliminaries, the fastest time on the day in the event.
The men’s 4x400m relay team of Darryl Elston, Justin Kremer, Donald Sanford and Joel Phillip also competed in Ames and ran 3:08.99, just off their season-best time. Phillip also ran in the open 400m dash, clocking a time of 47.72 to finish eighth overall.
One other Sun Devil competed on the day and that was Stephanie Garnett, who participated in the long jump at the Washington meet in Seattle. Garnett finished fourth overall in the event with a best mark of 6.08m (19-11.50).
Those Sun Devils that are selected will compete at the NCAA Indoor Track & Field Championships on Friday and Saturday (March 13-14) at College Station, Texas. The NCAA will announce all selections to the field of competitors on Monday night.
Meet Highlights - Last Chance Meets
Saturday, March 7 • Ames, Iowa
NCAA Automatic Qualifiers
Mason McHenry - M 800m run - 1:47.76 - school record
NCAA Provisional Qualifiers
Charonda Williams - W 60m prelims - 7.34
Nectaly Barbosa - M 800m run - 1:49.44
W 4x400m relay - 3:35.86
- D. Maloy, C. Williams, S. Elcock, J. Benjamin
M 4x400m relay - 3:08.99
- D. Elston, J. Kremer, D. Sanford, J. Phillip
Event Winners
Charonda Williams - W 60m prelims - 7.34
Mason McHenry - M 800m run - 1:47.76 - school record
On the ASU All-Time Top 5 Lists
Mason McHenry - M 800m run - 1:47.76 - school record
Nectaly Barbosa - M 800m run - 1:49.44 - #2 all-time at ASU