June 11, 2009

NCAA Track and Field Championships website (includes schedule, meet info, etc.)

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. - UC Davis junior Polly Gnepa finished third in his preliminary heat of the 110-meter high hurdles in 14.04 seconds on Thursday afternoon at the NCAA Division I Track and Field Championships at the University of Arkansas, automatically qualifying for Friday's nationally televised semifinals, while junior Jazz Trice missed advancing by just over .01 of a second.

The top three finishers in each of the four heats plus the next six fastest times qualifed for the 18-competitor semifinal round which will be contested on Friday at 5:05 p.m. (Pacific) and shown on CBS College Sports. Gnepa was third in his heat and 12th overall while Trice was sixth in his prelim in 14.17 seconds and 21st overall.

Trice, racing in the first heat, was in a close battle for fifth with Kellen Curry of Air Force who edged him at the line with a time of 14.16. Curry was one of three competitors in the event who posted that time but missed out on the final semifinal position after times were taken to the thousandeths. Ronnie Ash of Bethune-Cookman won the heat in 13.47 seconds.

"Jazz had a pretty low start, clipping the first hurdle, and just couldn't recover," said associate head coach Byron Talley. "He ran the rest of the race well."

Gnepa, whose standout season includes runner-up finishes at the Cal-Nevada and Big West championships. followed with a solid showing in the second heat which was captured by South Carolina's Booker Nunley in 13.69 seconds. Oscar Spurlock of USC was second at 13.83, followed by Gnepa. Paul Dittmer of Idaho at was fourth 14.12.

"Polly was able to get out in the heart of the race and hold his position the rest of the way," said Talley.

Jason Richardson of South Carolina had the day's fastest time at 13.41 seconds.

Gnepa advances to Friday's semifinal round in which the top four finishers in each heat and the next fastest time will move on to Saturday's final which will be nationally televised by CBS. Talley said Gnepa will need a strong race on Friday in order to advance.

"I think it will take a race we saw at regionals," he said. "He has to run a clean, quick race."

Gnepa finished fifth at the regional meet at Oregon on May 30, posting a career-best, wind-aided time of 13.69 seconds.

The Aggie hurdlers are the first UC Davis student-athletes to qualify for the national championship meet since the university began Div. I membership last year. The pair own the top two spots on the program's all-time hurdles list. Trice. the Big West Conference champion, holds the school record at 13.73 seconds while Gnepa is second at 13.99.

Both will continue their seasons later this month at the USTAF S enior National Championships at Oregon.

NCAA DIVISION I TRACK AND FIELD CHAMPIONSHIPS
Fayetteville, Ark. (Univ. of Arkansas)
UC Davis results only

110HH (prelims) - 1. Jason Richardson, South Carolina, 13.41.... 12. Polly Gnepa, 14.04; 21. Jazz Trice, 14.17.