May 29, 2010
AUSTIN, Texas - UC Davis senior Polly Gnepa qualified for his second straight NCAA Division I Track and Field Championships in the 110-meter high hurdles on Saturday afternoon, crossing in a wind-aided 13.77 seconds at the West Regional to secure one of 12 coveted spots in the event to next month's meet in Eugene, Ore.
Gnepa was the only Aggie in action during Saturday's last day to punch a ticket to the national finals at the University of Oregon. Senior Sirena Williams, school-record holder in the 100 hurdles, finished seventh in her heat and 17th overall with a time of 13.56 seconds.
Distance standout and school-record holder Jonathan Peterson finished the 5,000-meter run in 14:28.83 while finishing 22nd overall. Triple jumpers Ray Green and Igor Seriba were 20th and 27th, respectively, but both enjoyed career-best efforts during the elite meet.
Each individual event sent 12 qualifiers to the NCAA Finals next month.
Racing from Lane 6, Gnepa finished fourth in his heat with a wind-aided time of 13.77. The top three finishers from each of the three races on Saturday - as well as the fastest three times from among the remaining competitors - also advanced and Gnepa's mark was the best of the group that advanced on time..
Ronnie Ash of Oklahoma posted the fastest time of the day, winning Gnepa's heat in 13.37 seconds.
Williams, who set a school record when she went 13.43 seconds while finishing second at the Big West Championships two weeks ago, posted a strong time at Texas. However, the field was a tough one with the three competitors who qualified for the NCAA Finals on time posting marks of 13.37 or faster.
Williams is the only Aggie to ever break 14 seconds in the event and has consistently lowered her own school record over the past two seasons. Gabby Mayo of Texas A&M went a blistering 12.81 seconds for the day's best time, well-ahead of Shalina Clarke of USC who finished with the second-best time (13.09).
Peterson posted his third-fastest time of the season and finished much higher than where he was ranked entering the meet. The race was contested in 85-degree heat and nearly 60 percent humidity. Northern Arizona's David McNeill had the fastest time, clocking a 13:59.30.
Green, who captured the Big West Championship in the triple jump with a PR of 49 feet, 9.75 inches to move into fifth all-time at UC Davis, went past 50 feet for the first time in his Aggie career on Saturday, jumping 50-6.75 on his second attempt. It pushed him up three spots to No. 2 on the all-time list.
Seriba made his debut on the Aggies' career list with his PR of 49-8.25, vaulting him to No. 8 all-time. Tyron Stewart of Texas A&M had the day's best mark, finishing at 54-5.5.
Saturday's performances brought a close to the Aggies at the NCAA Regionals. UC Davis was represented by nine men and seven women at the meet, one of two super regionals this weekend that determined the field for next month's championships.
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 3 of 3
UC Davis results only
MEN
110HH - 1. Ronnie Ash, Oklahoma, 13.37.... 10. Polly Gnepa, 13.77.
5,000 - 1. David McNeill, No. Arizona, 13:59.30.... 22. Jonathan Peterson, 14:28.83.
TJ - 1. Tyron Stewart, Texas A&M, 16.60 (54-5.5)... 20. Ray Green, 15.41 (50-06.75)l; 27. Igor Seriba, 15.14 (49-8.25).
WOMEN
100H - 1. Gabby Mayo, Texas A&M, 12.81... 17. Sirena Williams, 13.56.
