May 30, 2008
NCAA West Regional Website
NORTHRIDGE, Calif. -- Jah Bennett tied for seventh in the finals of the men's high jump while Jazz Trice barely missed qualifying for the 110-meter high hurdle finals as UC Davis opened competition on Friday at the NCAA Division I Track and Field West Region Championships at Cal State Northridge.
Five Aggie athletes were in action on Friday, including two in finals. Bennett finished with a mark of 6 feet, 9 inches in the high jump while Kaitlin Gregg was 15th in the women's 5,000 in 17:14.09. The top five finishers in each event final automatically advance to the NCAA Championships at Des Moines, Iowa, next month.
Trice was one of three hurdlers that qualified for the regionals, which were held at the same site as the Big West Conference Championships two weeks ago. Trice, who is No. 3 all-time at UC Davis with a mark of 14.03, finished third in his heat on Friday in 14.09. That time was barely behind Washington State's Robert Williams who earned the last spot in Saturday's final with a clocking of 14.04. Kevin Craddock of UCLA went 13.68 to finish with the day's top time.
Polly Gnepa, the Aggies' school-record holder in the event with a time of 14.01, was fifth in his preliminary race on Friday, crossing in 14.31 and finishing 13th overall. UC Davis' remaining hurdler was Sirena Williams, whose 13.93 this season is a school record for the 100 hurdles. Williams was fifth in her heat at Cal State Northridge on Friday, finishing in 14.58 and did not qualify for the final. Shalina Clarke of USC posted the day's fastest time in 13.45.
Gregg qualified for the regional meet with a time of 16:44.15, a mark that places her No. 4 all-time at UC Davis. She finished 15th on Friday in 17:14.09 among a tough field of competitors. Stanford's Teresa McWalters won the race in 16:17.30. The Aggies' Kim Conley, who set a school record in the 5,000 in May at Stanford in 16:23.58, did not race on Friday due to illness.
Bennett cleared 6-09.00 on his first attempt on Friday but mised on his three tries at 6-11.00. Trent Arrivey of Washington State went 7-03.25 to capture first place. Bennett tied with Bryce Bergen of BYU.
UC Davis will have two men competing on Saturday as discus thrower Matt Swarbrick and freshman triple jumper Ray Green try to advance to the NCAA Championships.
NCAA DIVISION I WEST REGION CHAMPIONSHIPS
Northridge, Calif. (hoste gd by Cal State Northridge)
All prelims unless noted
UC Davis results only
MEN
110HH - 1. Kevin Craddock, UCLA, 13.68... 9. Jazz Trice, 14.09; 13. Polly Gnepa, 14.31.
HJ - 1. Trent Arrivey, WSU, 2.22 (7-03.25)... T7. Jah Bennett, 2.06 (6-09.00).
WOMEN
100H - 1. Shalina Clarke, USC, 13.45... 17. Sirena Williams, 14.58.
5000 - 1. Teresa McWalters, Stanford, 16:17.30... 15. Kaitlin Gregg, 17:14.09.
