May 23, 2013
NCAA West Preliminary Photo Gallery
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AUSTIN, Texas — Sophomore Gabe Hull punched his ticket to Eugene, Ore., and six more Hawkeyes advanced through the first round today at the 2013 NCAA Track & Field Outdoor Championships. The West preliminary round is being contested at Mike A. Myers Stadium on the campus of the University of Texas.
Hull placed third overall in the men’s discus, recording a mark of 191-10 (58.47m) on his second attempt. He advances to the NCAA finals for the first time in his career. Hull missed the finals last season by one spot. He finished 13th a year ago, and only the top 12 from each region advance to the final site.
“Today went well for me,” said Hull. “I was glad to get a 58 in prelims because in my mind I thought a 58 would get me to nationals, and in the end it did. I’m very pleased. I came in seeded fifth and finished third, so I was able to jump two spots.”
MonTayla Holder advanced through the first round of the women’s 400-meter hurdles, and Ethan Holmes and Keaton Rickels will both move on in the men’s 400-meter hurdles. Holder set a personal best and grabbed the final spot in the quarterfinals by placing fifth in her heat and 24th overall with a time of 59.71. Holmes and Rickels earned automatic bids to the finals with second and third place finishes in their respective heats.
Iowa also sent three athletes to the quarterfinals of the 100 meters. Justin Austin matched his season best with a time of 10.22 and Josh Larney set a personal record with a time of 10.31. Larney’s time ties him with Anthuan Maybank and Tim Dwight for third all-time in school history. Lake Kwaza matched her personal best in the women’s 100 meters, earning an automatic bid to the quarters with a time of 11.56.
Annemie Smith led a group of three Hawkeyes in the women’s hammer. Smith set a personal record on her third and final throw, recording a mark of 188-7 (57.49m) to place 25th. Smith and teammates Jasmine Simpson (33rd; 185-11, 56.68m) and Ashlyn Gulvas (foul) fell short of the top 12 and NCAA final site.
Kaitlyn Nelson set a personal record in the women’s 800 meters with a time of 2:08.83. She and teammate Adrianne Alexia (2:09.31) placed 25th and 26th overall and were the first two runners on the outside looking in at the 800-meters quarterfinals. Ryan Weir competed in the men’s 800 meters, placing 27th with a time of 1:50.31.
The NCAA first round continues tomorrow and concludes Saturday. Big Ten runner-up and school record holder Majesty Tutson opens tomorrow’s competition with the women’s discus at 12 p.m. (CT). Updated results through the weekend can be found on the track and field schedule page at hawkeyesports.com.