Track & field post solid showings on opening day of NCAA meet
Despite a nearly three-hour rain and lightning delay, the Arizona State University track and field program took care of business on the first day of competition at the 2009 NCAA Outdoor Track & Field Championships at John McDonnell Field in Fayetteville, Ark., on Wednesday as six individuals and one relay advanced to the finals of their respective events, including Sarah Stevens, who qualified in a pair of events. The meet did not go off without a hitch as a three-hour weather delay pushed several events later into the evening with the final race ending around 1:30 a.m. CST.
Stevens, a 12-time All-American and the defending champion in the discus, opened her week with a third-place showing in the hammer qualifying at 62.74m (205-10) to earn one of 12 qualifying positions into Friday’s final. Later in the day, she took part in the shot put and, with one throw, met the automatic qualifying standard with her toss of 17.34m (56-10.75) to advance to Thursday’s final with the top mark in the competition.
Also in the field, Jason Lewis competed in both events and qualified in the hammer as the 12th entrant to the finals with a toss of 64.08m (210-3) before placing 22nd in the shot put at 17.83m (58-06.00). Ryan Whiting, just like Stevens, qualified with the top mark in the shot put on his first toss, which measured 20.91m (68-07.25).
Charonda Williams advanced through two rounds of the 100m dash to reach the final as she clocked 11.32 in the first round before her 11.55 in the semifinals was good enough for the ninth and final position for the championship race. Dominique’ Maloy placed 19th in the first round of the 100m dash in 11.51 and was the first runner to not make the semifinal round. Both women ran with Kayla Sanchez and Jasmine Chaney to clock in at 44.15 and qualify for the final of the 4x100m relay with the seventh-best time on the day. The final woman to run was Jenna Kingma, who placed 20th in the semifinal of the 5,000m run with a time of 16:46.20.
The men competed in three races with one producing an advancer in Brandon Bethke, who ran 13:58.76 to place third overall in the 5,000m run semifinal. Allante Battle competed in the first round of the 100m dash and was 28th in 10.68. He then joined up with Michael Stokes, Lawrence Trice and Ray Miller to run 40.37, the 17th-fastest time on the day in the 4x100m relay. Neither of the sprint entries advanced in their respective competitions.
The Sun Devils will have several athletes competing on Thursday, including: Stevens and Cj Navarro in the women’s discus (qualifying); Whiting and Lewis in the men’s discus (qualifying); Stevens and Whiting in the shot put finals; Chaney in the 100m hurdles (first round); Williams and Maloy in the women’s 200m dash (first round); Battle in the men’s 200m dash (first round); the men’s and women’s 4x400m relay (semifinal) and Ali Kielty in the final of the women’s 10,000m run.
NCAA Championships Results - Day 1
Wednesday, June 10 • Fayetteville, Ark.
Women’s 100m Dash - First Round
11. Charonda Williams - 11.32 (qualifies for semifinal)
19. Dominique’ Maloy - 11.51 (dnq)
Women’s 100m Dash - Semifinal
9. Charonda Williams - 11.55 (qualifies for final)
Women’s 5,000m Run - Semifinal
20. Jenna Kingma - 16:46.20 (dnq)
Women’s 4x100m Relay - Semifinal
7. D. Maloy, K. Sanchez, J. Chaney, C. Williams - 44.15 (qualifies for final)
Women’s Shot Put - Qualifying
1. Sarah Stevens - 17.34m (56-10.75)(qualifies for final)
Women’s Hammer - Qualifying
3. Sarah Stevens - 62.74m (205-10)(qualifies for final)
Men’s 100m Dash - First Round
28. Allante Battle - 10.68 (dnq)
Men’s 5,000m Run - Semifinal
3. Brandon Bethke - 13:58.76 (qualifies for final)
Men’s 4x100m Relay - Semifinal
17. M. Stokes, A. Battle, L. Trice, R. Miller - 40.37 (dnq)
Men’s Shot Put - Qualifying
1. Ryan Whiting - 20.91m (68-07.25)(qualifies for final)
22. Jason Lewis - 17.83m (58-06.00)(dnq)
Men’s Hammer - Qualifying
12. Jason Lewis - 64.08m (210-03)(qualifies for final)