NCAA announces accepted entries into West and East preliminary rounds...
INDIANAPOLIS--The NCAA released Thursday the athletes qualified to compete in the preliminary round of the NCAA track & field championships, with the country split into two regional meets in Austin, Texas (University of Texas), and Greensboro, North Carolina (North Carolina A&T).
The top twelve finishers from the two preliminary round venues will advance to the NCAA championship final meet in Eugene on June 5-8 at Hayward Field on the campus of the University of Oregon.
Men seeded in the top eight with Washington ties in the Austin regional meet include Washington's James Alaka (100), Rainier Beach HS grad Michael Berry of Oregon (left/photo by Paul Merca) in the 400; and Joe Zimmerman of Washington (javelin).
On the women's side, athletes seeded in the top eight with Washington ties for Austin include Bellingham's Becca Friday of the University of Oregon (1500); Mel Lawrence and Liberty Miller of Washington and Caroline Austin of Washington State (steeple); Wenatchee native Hannah Kiser of the University of Idaho (5000); Pac-12 champ Megan Goethals of Washington (5000/10000); Holly Parent of Washington State (high jump); University Place resident Andrea Geubelle of Kansas (long/triple jumps); and Cora Kellerman of Eastern Washington (javelin).
Seattle University will have one entry in the meet in javelin thrower Dylan Burnett, while Gonzaga will have 1500 meter runner Brent Felnagle, along with 5000 runner Lindsey Drake and 10000 runner Emily Thomas.
The Cougars will have squads in both women's relays, while the Huskies will have a 4 x 400 team. Washington has entries in both men's relays, while Washington State will have a 4 x 100 relay.
Athletes with Washington ties competing in the Greensboro regional meet include Redmond HS grad Devin McMahon of Cornell (10000m), and Bellevue HS grad Michael Williams of Princeton.
Washington's Jeremy Taiwo has already earned a spot in the national championship meet, as he is seeded fifth in the decathlon.
DIVISION II ENTRIES RELEASED
Seattle Pacific will have seven entries into the NCAA Division II championships in Pueblo, Colorado on May 23-25th, led by talented multi-event specialist Ali Worthen, along with Katy Gross.
Worthen is the current national leader in the heptathlon in D2 with a score of 5492 points, posted in April at the MONDO Mid-Major Challenge.
Gross is seeded #6 with a score of 4992 points posted at the GNAC championship meet on April 29-30. She is also entered in the javelin.
The Falcons will have two entries in the 800 in McKayla Fricker and Emily Quatier, along with Lynelle Decker in the 1500. Their 4 x 400 meter relay team is also slated to run.
Western Washington has only one entry in the meet in javelin thrower Bethany Drake, while Central Washington has one entry in high jumper Tayler Fettig.
Javelin thrower Braden Keller and triple jumper Bryan Mack of Central Washington, along with Seattle Pacific 1500 meter runner Seth Pierson are the only men from Washington D2 schools accepted into the national championship meet.
SPU'S DALIGCON STEPS DOWN AS HEAD CROSS COUNTRY COACH
Seattle Pacific distance coach Erika Daligcon (left/photo courtesy Seattle Pacific) will step down as the school's head cross country coach and distance coach after five years on the job, according to a release from the school.
“My philosophy is to honor your athletes, and I need to honor my family, too,” Daligcon said. “It was definitely a bittersweet decision. I love coaching, I love supporting the athletes, and it has been a real gift to spend time with some of these athletes almost every day of their college career.”
Daligcon competed for the Falcons for two years, earned her degree at the school, and began her coaching career at SPU in 2002 as an assistant to Doris Heritage before Heritage retired in 2008.
Under Daligcon's tutelage, the Falcons made three appearances at the NCAA cross country championships, earning fourth place trophies in 2008 and 2009, and a 17th place finish last fall.
Comments