June 8, 2011

Results

DES MOINES, Iowa - Thomas Phillips was 13th in the 400-meter hurdles on Wednesday evening while fellow UC Davis senior Alex Wilright was 15th as the pair saw their outstanding seasons to a close at the NCAA Division I Track and Field Championships at Drake University.

Phillips was sixth in his heat in 50.86 seconds while Wilright was fourth in his race in 51.08. The top two finishers in each of the three heats plus the next two fastest times overall advanced to the national championship race on Friday.

Three of the eight finalists broke the 50-second barrier on Wednesday night while the slowest time to advance was 50.34.

Wilright competed in the first heat which was won by Amaechi Morton of Stanford in 49.31 while Phillips was in the third heat. Jamele Mason of Texas Tech won that one in 50.01.

Both Aggies advanced to the national championships after exceptional performances at the NCAA West Prelim meet at Oregon less than two weeks ago. Wilright advanced by tying his school record of 50.47 seconds while Phillips raced a little later and lowered it to 50.22, punching his ticket to Drake.

The pair have enjoyed outstanding careers for the Aggies. Both are Big West Conference champions in the 400 hurdles and have combined to win the event at the past five Cal-Nevada State Championships. Wilright won three of them while Phillips won twice, including this season.

The pair were the only Aggie competitors at this year's NCAA Finals.

NCAA TRACK AND FIELD CHAMPIONSHIPS
Des Moines, Iowa (hosted by Drake University)
Day 1 of 4
UC Davis results only

MEN
400H (semifinal) - 1. Jeshua Anderson, Washington State, 49.18... 13. Thomas Phillips, 50.86; 15. Alex Wilright, 51.08