May 29, 2009
Midwest Regional Photo Gallery (Friday, May 29)
- Iowa and the Big Ten Network
- Big Ten Network: Free Hawkeye Video
- 24 Hawkeyes to Watch
- Midwest Regional web site (Univ. of Oklahoma)
- Official Results
NORMAN, Okla. — A `clean’ race for 100 meters with 10 barriers in the way is all that stands between University of Iowa sophomore Karessa Farley and a berth to the NCAA national track and field championships June 10-13 in Fayetteville, Ark.
Farley clipped the ninth hurdle, but still placed third in her preliminary heat and nabbed one of five at-large bids to the finals Friday during the first day of the two-day NCAA Midwest Regional, hosted by the University of Oklahoma. Farley was clocked in 13.67-seconds.
“It was pretty good through the first five hurdles, then I kind of stopped competing, which I’ll have to fix tomorrow,” Farley said. “I want to put together a clean race and if I keep competing, I should be fine.”
The top five individuals and the top three relays qualify for nationals.
Farley was one of two Hawkeye women’s track and field student-athletes in action Friday. Senior Renee White finished 13th in the long jump (19-feet-2 ½).
This is the first season of outdoor track for Farley, a native of Bridgetown, Barbados. She placed fourth at the Big Ten outdoor championships in 13.56. Bettering that mark is a possibility in Saturday’s final.
“I know I just need to get a clean race, keep competing over the last four or five hurdles and I’m going to be good and get the time I want,” Farley said. “I want to finish in the top three and have a safe spot for nationals and a good time.”
Action resumes at 11 a.m. Saturday with the men’s hammer throw from John Jacobs Field. The first running event begins at 5 p.m. with the women’s 4×100-meter relay.