Hawkeyes Qualify 7 More to NCAA Championships

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By JACK ROSSI
hawkeyesports.com

SACRAMENTO, Calif. — On the second day of the NCAA West Preliminary, the University of Iowa track and field team clinched seven more athletes to the NCAA Championships on Friday inside Hornet Stadium.

After qualifying two to the NCAA Championships yesterday, the Hawkeyes had 11 more opportunities on Friday and did not disappoint with seven of those athletes extending their seasons. In addition, Iowa added four more quarterfinalists set to compete for spots in the Championships tomorrow.

HEAR FROM COACH WOODY
“We have high expectation for our program, but things went really well for our team today. From the 100 to the discus to the 800 and everything in between, our kids came out and competed and that’s what it comes down to at this time of the year. Everybody is pretty good when you get to this meet, so you have to go out and compete hard and believe in yourself. I was proud of how our athletes represented Hawkeye nation and went after it.”
 

“It was great to see Brittany Brown qualify for the 100 meters for the first time in her career. It shows that she is an all-around sprinter. She can run anything from the 100 meters to the 400 meters. She did phenomenal today and then ran to the number one seed in the 200 meters for tomorrow’s finals.”

“Lagi (Tausaga) came back on her last throw and competed hard to the finish. She had a phenomenal throw at the end to qualify. We were a little bit nervous during that one, but she is a gamer.”

“Matt Manternach is a guy who was ranked 43rd in the region in the 800 meters. He was one of the last qualifiers to get here and to see him punch his ticket to Eugene is unbelievable.”

ON TO EUGENE
After day two, Iowa qualified seven more athletes to the NCAA Championships, including two first timers. These athletes will compete at the NCAA Outdoor Championships in Eugene, Oregon, June 6-9.

Reno Tuufuli
Discus – 196-10
1st place

Briana Guillory
400 Meters – 51.86, personal best, T-2nd all-time
4th place

Laulauga Tausaga
Discus – 191-0
4th place

Mar’yea Harris
400 Meters – 45.66
5th place

Matt Manternach *
800 Meters – 1:48.63, personal best, 7th all-time
10th place

Chris Douglas *
400-Meter Hurdles – 50.70
12th place

Brittany Brown
100 Meters – 11.31
12th place

*first time NCAA qualifier

QUARTERFINALISTS
The 200 meters, 110-meter hurdles, and 100-meter hurdles ran the first round of each event on Friday where Iowa had four more quarterfinalists. They will look to secure their spots at the NCAA Championships on Saturday.

Brittany Brown; Saturday at 9:50 p.m.
200 Meters – 22.83
1st place

Jenny Kimbro; Saturday at 9:20 p.m.
100-Meter hurdles – 13.44, personal best, 2nd all-time
15th place

Antonio Woodard; Saturday at 9:35 p.m.
200 Meters – 21.01
15th place

Chris Douglas; Saturday at 9:05 p.m.
110-Meter hurdles – 13.99
10th place

UP NEXT
The Hawkeyes conclude the NCAA West Preliminaries tomorrow, beginning with the women’s hammer throw at 2 p.m. (CT). Running events begin at 8 p.m. with the 400-meter relay. A live stream of the meet is available through FloTrack and live results are available on hawkeyesports.com/tracklive.
 

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