Cal Track and Field at NCAA West Regional: Camryn Rogers earns NC berth
18 Cal Bears are looking to advance to the NCAA Championships by placing in the top 12 this week (Wednesday to Saturday)
From College Station, Texas this week, 18 Cal Track and Field athletes are each seeking a berth in the NCAA Outdoor Track and Field Championships in Eugene, Oregon on June 9-12.
This post will be used to provide daily updates on the Cal results until Saturday.
Wednesday Results:
Golden Bears started the meet with a near-miss in men’s hammer throw. Freshman Ivar Moisander set two personal bests but fell 0.75 meters (2 foot-6 inches) and one spot short of advancing. For reference, Moisander was still more than 7 meters short of the winner of the Regional.
Bears had another near-miss in shot put as junior Josh Johnson finished two spots out of advancing. Freshman Jeff Duensing had a mark of 17.66m (57-11.25) that was 32nd overall.
The Cal runners did not come that close to advancing. Garrett Macquiddy was 41st in 1500m and 44th in 800m and did not advance to the semifinals. Sophomore teammate Moises Medrano was 35th in 800m.
Sophomore Henry Larkin was 37th in the 400m prelim, but apparently was not 100%.
Wednesday's Results
MEN
Hammer Throw: 13. Ivar Moisander, 64.32m/211-0 (PR)
Shot Put: 14. Josh Johnson, 18.97m/62-3; 32. Jeff Duensing, 17.66m/57-11.25
1,500-Meters: 41. Garrett MacQuiddy, 3:51.34
400-Meters: 37. Henry Larkin, 47.60
800-Meters: 35. Moises Medrano, 1:51.93; 44. Garrett MacQuiddy, 1:53.91
Thursday Results:
As expected, the reigning NCAA champion women’s hammer throw will get to defend her national title. Cal junior Camryn Rogers set a new course record to earn a spot at the NCAA Championships. Her best throw was her second throw of the meet.
A laser issue meant that Jasmine Blair will get a re-do on Friday morning to also earn a top-12 spot in the hammer throw and advance.
On track, Ezinne Abba set a new school record and placed second in her heat to advance in the 100m. Her time is only the 16th best though, so she will likely need to improve to get to Eugene.
Also advancing to the quarterfinals is Deshae Wise on the 100m hurdles, who was 3rd in her meet. While Maisie Stevens and Annie Boos did not advance in their events, Stevens will race in the 4x100 relay while Boos will race in 3000m steeplechase on Saturday.
Thursday's Results
WOMEN
Hammer Throw: 1. Camryn Rogers, 72.16m/236-9; X. Anna Purchase, FOUL
100-Meter Hurdles: 17. Deshae Wise, 13.17Qw
1,500-Meters: 40. Annie Boos, 4:32.41
100-Meters: 16. Ezinne Abba, 11.30QSR; 32. Maisie Stevens, 11.54w
200-Meters: 37. Ezinne Abba, 23.58 (PR)
Cal’s Schedule:
Mirroring the national meet, the NCAA Preliminary is held over four days with alternating men's and women's programs. The men will compete Wednesday and Friday with the women in action Thursday and Saturday.
Field events begin at 11:30 a.m. PT on Wednesday with the men's hammer throw as Ivar Moisander will open competition for California. Josh Johnson and Jeff Duensing follow in the men's shot put with the event starting at 4 p.m. PT. Johnson will be joined by Iffy Joyner in the men's discus throw as athletes enter the cage at 11:30 a.m. PT on Friday.
Running events start Wednesday at 4:30 p.m. PT with Garrett MacQuiddy in the men's 1,500-meter first round, followed by Henry Larkin running the opening round of the men's 400-meters at 5:25 p.m. PT. Men's first round action on the track finishes with MacQuiddy and Moises Medrano in the men's 800-meters at 5:50 p.m. PT.
Camryn Rogers is set to start defending her 2019 NCAA title in the women's hammer throw at 11:30 a.m. PT on Thursday along with teammates Anna Purchase and Jasmine Blair. Rogers is the school record holder and currently leads the NCAA, boasting a personal best mark of 73.09 meters (239-9) to pass the Olympic standard which she set on April 17 at the West Coast Classic. Purchase enters with the 13th-best mark in the country at 66.52 meters (218-3).
Deshae Wise opens action on the track for the women in Blue and Gold at 4 p.m. PT Thursday in the women's 100-meter hurdle opening round after finishing fourth at the Pac-12 Championships with a time of 13.26. She set a new personal best of 13.15 earlier this season, the second-fastest time in California track & field history.
Annie Boos starts her two-event NCAA regional in the women's 1,500-meter first round at 4:30 p.m. PT Thursday and the Cal school record holder in the 3,000-meter steeplechase competes in her second event at 4:10 p.m. PT on Saturday, trying to secure her bid to nationals in the steeple.
Women's sprints open at 5 p.m. on Thursday with a pair of Cal runners, Ezinne Abba and Maisie Stevens, in the 100-meter dash first round. Abba is set to pull the dual on Thursday as she's entered in the women's 200-meter dash starting at 6:45 p.m. PT.
Saturday gets underway for Cal at 11 a.m. PT as Hawa Wague looks to qualify for nationals in the women's high jump competition, followed by Blair and Krissy Smoot in the women's discus throw at 11:30 a.m. PT.
Asha Fletcher takes flight in the women's triple jump at 1:15 p.m. PT on Saturday and the Cal 4x100-meter relay team of Abba, Wise, Stevens and Sonia Redon try to sprint their way to a spot in Eugene at 3:30 p.m. PT.
GO BEARS!