Track and field shines on first day at NCAA Preliminary
The first day of action at the NCAA Preliminary Round West Meet came to a close Thursday night for the Arizona State University track & field team with three Sun Devils earning a trip to the national finals in Eugene while six sprinters and one/two distance runners came one step closer to reaching the finals in their respective events in the meet being held inside the Mike A. Meyers Track and Soccer Stadium in Austin, Texas.
The men’s shot put trio of Ryan Whiting, Jason Lewis and Jordan Clarke took care of business as they finished first, third and fifth, respectively, to punch their tickets to the national finals as they placed among the Top 12 overall. Whiting, once again, broke the 70-foot barrier with his winning mark, but took it one step further as he launched the shot to 21.83m (71-07.50) and broke his own school record of 21.71m (71-02.75) that he throw at the 2010 Sun Angel Track Classic. Whiting also increased his season and career records for meets with a 70-foot or better throw as he tallied his seventh of the year and ninth in his career while moving back into second on the world lists with his mark.
Lewis went over 60-feet for the second (in three meets) time this season as he took third place in 18.36m (60-03.00) while Clarke was fifth at 18.25m (59-10.50). Lewis will be back in the field Friday as he looks to lock up another entry to Eugene in the hammer throw while all three men will compete again on Saturday, this time in the discus.
On the track, the quarter-milers had a strong showing as the men saw all three of their entries in the 400m dash move through to the quarterfinals on Friday while three women (one in the 400m dash and two in the 400m hurdles) did the same. For the men, Donald Sanford led the charge as he was the fifth qualifier with his time of 46.00. Joel Phillip was 18th in 46.97 and Justin Kremer was 47.01, the 21st-best time, both of which made the quarterfinal field of 24 runners on Friday with Sanford. All three will now have to finish in the Top 12 to reach Eugene.
The women’s 400m hurdles had a pair of Devils competing with Jasmine Chaney running 58.52 to finish fifth overall while rookie Keia Pinnick ran 58.99 to rank 14th. Both of their times were just off their personal-best marks of 58.01 and 58.86, respectively. Their relay teammate Dominique’ Maloy also had an impressive run as she turned in a personal-best time of 52.95 to finish eighth overall. Maloy’s time is just 0.22 away from breaking into the ASU all-time Top 10 list.
The final Sun Devil to advance from a race today was Mason McHenry in the 800m run. The sophomore took the pace out from the gun and crossed the line first as he won his heat in 1:48.62 to post the third-best qualifying time.
Several other Sun Devils competed on the day, but were unable to advance in their respective events. On the women’s side, Ali Kielty and Lindsay Prescott competed in the 10,000m run and placed 23rd (35:26.26) and 24th (35:30.75), respectively, while Anna Sperry was 43rd (4:37.93) and Kari Hardt withdrew from the 1,500m run. For the men, John Kline was 48th in the 800m run (1:54.14); Dylan Hatcher and Nectaly Barbosa finished 39th (3:54.82) and 45th (4:01.14) in the 1,500m run; and Eddie McClain and Marc Peck went 34th (58.70m/192-7) and 35th (57.72m/189-4), respectively, in the javelin.
ASU will have a large group of competitors on Friday. Along with those that advanced from today, others competing including Cj Navarro (discus), Austin Prince (pole vault), Chaney and Christabel Nettey (100m hurdles), Nettey and Constance Ezugha (long jump), Ray Miller (200m) and the trio of Cherise McNair, Kauren Tarver and Angela Spadafino (steeplechase).
2010 NCAA West Preliminary Round - Austin, Texas
Day 1 Arizona State Results
Men’s 400m
5. Donald Sanford - 46.00 - advances to quarterfinal on Friday
18. Joel Phillip - 46.97 - advances to quarterfinal on Friday
21. Justin Kremer - 47.01 - advances to quarterfinal on Friday
Women’s 400m
8. Dominique’ Maloy - 52.95 - advances to quarterfinal on Friday
Women’s 400m Hurdles
5. Jasmine Chaney - 58.52 - advances to quarterfinal on Friday
14. Keia Pinnick - 58.99 - advances to quarterfinal on Friday
Men’s 800m
3. Mason McHenry - 1:48.62 - advances to quarterfinal on Friday
48. John Kline - 1:54.14
Men’s 1500m
39. Dylan Hatcher - 3:54.82
45. Nectaly Barbosa - 4:01.14
Women’s 1500m
43. Anna Sperry - 4:37.93
-- Kari Hardt - did not finish
Women’s 10,000m
23. Ali Kielty - 35:26.26
24. Lindsay Prescott - 35:30.75
Men’s Shot Put
1. Ryan Whiting - 21.83m (71-07.50) - advances to national final in Eugene
3. Jason Lewis - 18.36m (60-03.00) - advances to national final in Eugene
5. Jordan Clarke - 18.25m (59-10.50) - advances to national final in Eugene
Men’s Javelin
34. Eddie McClain - 58.70m (192-07)
35. Marc Peck - 57.72m (189-04)
Women’s Pole Vault
-- Cara Carpenter - no height