May 26, 2012
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Saturday Results | Weekend Results
AUSTIN, Texas — The University of Iowa track and field team completed the third and final day of the NCAA preliminary round Saturday, where three athletes qualified for the NCAA Championships. The Hawkeyes will send a total of eight athletes to Des Moines, Iowa, to compete in nine events.
Junior Ethan Holmes earned a trip to Des Moines when he clocked a time of 13.80 in the 110-meter hurdles. Holmes will also compete in the 400-meter hurdles at the NCAA Championships as he qualified for the event on Friday (51.31).
Junior Justin Austin qualified for the NCAA Championships in the 200 meters by the slightest of margins. Austin crossed the line in 20.824 to just beat out Arkansas runner Marek Nitt’s time of 20.829.
McKenzie Melander advanced to the NCAA Championships in the 5,000 meters. The junior recorded a time of 16:26.06 to earn a trip to Des Moines.
“It was certainly an outstanding weekend for those who qualified for the finals,” said head track and field coach Layne Anderson. “We fought hard all the way to the end, and we will head to Des Moines to battle one more time.”
Other qualifiers this weekend include junior Matt Byers in the javelin (223-8; 68.18m), senior Matt Banse in the hammer throw (201-11; 61.55m), senior Troy Doris in the triple jump (54-4 ¾; 16.58m), sophomore Ashley Liverpool in the 400 meters (53.36), and senior Erik Sowinski in the 800 meters (1:47.12).
“We are excited about the athletes that moved on to the finals,” said director of track and field Larry Wieczorek. “Overall, it was a good weekend, and we are fired up about heading to Des Moines.”
The NCAA Championships will take place June 6-9 in Des Moines, Iowa.