May 28, 2010
Meet Schedule | Saturday's Start Lists | Watch Saturday's Competition Live! |
AUSTIN, Texas - UC Davis hurdlers Polly Gnepa and Sirena Williams each moved a step closer to qualifying for next month's NCAA Track and Field Finals by advancing on Friday to the next round at the West Regional at the University of Texas.
Gnepa, a senior from Turlock, was second in his 110-meter high hurdles heat, tying with the sixth-fastest time overall at 13.86 seconds. The Big West Conference champion was a solid runner-up in his race, placing only behind Andrew Riley of Illinois - who posted the day's fastest time at 13.58 - and ahead of third-place Brandon Tucker of Texas Tech (13.97).
Gnepa, looking to return to the NCAA Finals for the second consecutive season, will race in the quarterfinal-round heats that begin at 5:05 p.m. (Pacific). The top three finishers from each of the three races plus the next three fastest times will advance to the national meet at Eugene, Ore., in June.
Williams, a senior from Fresno who got off to a good start in Friday's heat, moved on in the 100 hurdles after guaranteeing a spot in the quarterfinals with a third-place finish in her preliminary race. She was timed in 13.69 seconds, 22nd-fastest overall. Saturday's three quarterfinal races start at 5:20 p.m. (Pacific) with the same advancement rules applying to the 100 hurdles as the 110 high hurdles.
UC Davis had four other athletes competing on Friday at the meet, one of two super regionals that will determine the field for the national finals. Ashley Hearn, Big West champion in the discus, threw 159 feet, 3 inches, just missing a top-16 finish during preliminary rounds which would've given her three more attempts and a chance to improve her mark. Hearn placed 17th overall.
Freshman Mike Peterson cleared 16-feet, 2.75 inches in the pole vault - his second-best mark of the season - tying for 32nd. He went of 15-9 on his first attempt and then missed twice at 16-2.75 before staying alive on his final try at that height. Peterson wasn't able to surpass 16-8.75 which would've been a season-best.
Steeplechasers Caitlin Fitzgerald and Alison Stoakley raced under the lights on Friday and were 42nd and 45th, respectively, in the final standings which sent the first 12 to Eugene.. Fitzgerald, second on the Aggies' all-time list, crossed in 11:08.39 while Stoakley, who is third, was timed in 11:17.87.
Besides Gnepa and Williams, UC Davis will also have three other athletes in action on Saturday, part of 16 Aggies that qualified for the regional. Triple jumpers Ray Green and Igor Seriba will look for a top-12 finish beginning at 4 p.m. (Pacific) while Jonathan Peterson will compete in the 5,000 at 6:05 p.m., also trying to place in the top 12 and earn a berth to Eugene.
The NCAA Finals will be held June 9-12 and hosted by the University of Oregon at legendary Hayward Field.
NCAA WEST REGION TRACK AND FIELD CHAMPIONSHIPS
Austin Texas (hosted by Univ. of Texas)
Day 2 of 3
UC Davis results only
MEN
100H - 1. Andrew Riley, Illinois, 13.58... T6. Polly Gnepa, 13.86.
PV - 1. ..... T32. Mike Petersen, 4.95 (16-02.75)
WOMEN
100H - 1. Tamika Robinson, Illinois, 13.06... 22. Sirena Williams, 13.69
Steeple - 1. Silje Fjortoft, SMU, 10:08.20... 42. Caitlin Fitzgerald, 11:08.39; 45. Alison Stoakley, 11:17.87.
DT - 1. Simone du Toit, SMU, 54.80 (179-09)... 17. Ashley Hearn, 48.53 (159-03).
