June 8, 2006
Sacramento, Ca - For the sixth time in her young track & field career at Stanford University, Erica McLain is an All-American.
McLain, a sophomore from Plano, Texas, finished third in the long jump on Thursday night to highlight Stanford's participation at the 2006 NCAA Track & Field Championships at Sacramento State. For McLain, it is her first outdoor All-American honor in the long jump following two All-American accolades indoors (2005, 2006). McLain produced a mark of 21-0 1/2 (6.41m). Jovanee Jarrett of Auburn won the national title (21-2 1/2, 6.46m) while Patty Sylvester of Georgia was second (21-0 1/2, 6.41m). McLain's goal was to win the competition, not finish third which she says will make her more determined to win her best event, the triple jump on Saturday.
"Definitely," said McLain, when asked by a reporter if she should have won the competition. "I have definitely jumped better (21-5 1/4, 6.53m at the Pac-10's) than the winning mark. I really didn't get any good jumps (in the finals) because my calfs cramped. I don't know if it was the temperature change. I definitely have been drinking enough water. I know I should be happy with third place, but then I thought I had a chance to win it, but I just wasn't quite good enough."
Sarah Hopping, Ashley Freeman, Janice Davis. Russell Brown and Rolf Steier advanced to Saturday's finals in their respective events.
Hopping, the school record holder in the hammer (219-8, 66.96m), advanced to Saturday's final (10 a.m. pt) with a third place qualifying effort (211-5, 64.45m). Hopping's effort was only bettered by NCAA West Regional and Pac-10 champion Eva Orban of USC (214-3, 65.31m) and meet favorite Jenny Dahlgren of Georgia (213-5, 65.06m). For Hopping, this is the fourth straight season that she has competed at the NCAA's. Entering this season, Hopping, whose previous career-best was 204-2 (62.23m), has improved her career-best by nearly 16 feet this year. Hopping, a certain All-American in 2006, is in elite company as she prepares for her final collegiate event. Her competition includes meet favorite Jenny Dahlgren from Georgia, who has thrown 236-3 (72.01m, NCAA record) this year and USC's Eva Orban, who has a season-best effort of 226-8 (69.10m). Dahlgren hails from Buenos Aires, Argentina, while Orban represented Hungary at the 2004 Olympics.
Freeman, who has competed at the NCAA's the last three years, lowered her season-best time in the semifinals of the 800 meters (2:05.61) and has advanced to Saturday's final (12:05 p.m.).
Davis has reached the 100 meter final. Her time of 11.42 in the semifinals gave her the ninth and final position in Saturday's final (12:35 p.m.). Davis advanced to the semifinals earlier in the day with a time of 11.49 in the prelims.
Steier ran a career-best 3:45.08 and Brown ran 3:48.24 to advance to the 1500 meter final on Saturday (2:04 p.m. pt).
Friday's action will see Erica McLain competing in her speciality, the triple jump (1:00 p.m. pt) while Solomon Welch will compete in the men's triple jump (3:00 p.m. pt). The semifinals of the 200 meters are slated for 5:45 p.m. with Janice Davis and Chauntae Bayne-Hackett in the field. Katy Trotter is in the field for the final in the 5000 meters (7:00 p.m.).
Complete results are available at www.hornetsports.com or www.ncaasports.org
Cardinal Chatter
Erica McLain is Stanford's best bet to win an NCAA title in 2006 ... McLain, a six-time All-American who finished third in the triple jump at the NCAA's last year, has the third-best mark this year at 45-5wa (13.84m) which she accomplished at the Texas Relays (4/8/06) ... However ranked ahead of McLain are two women from Miami (Florida), Tabia Charles (46-6wa, 14.17m) and Brenda Faluade (45-7 1/4wa, 13.90m) ... Charles is a nine-time All-American from Pickering, Ontario, Canada, while Faluade is a five-time All-American from Katy, Texas ... Hot weather continues to dominate the NCAA Track & Field Championships ... Temperatures rose to the high 80's on Thursday with hot weather to continue on Friday and Saturday.
Television Time
College Sports Television (CSTV) will air two hours of live coverage on Friday from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. (Pacific time) ... CBS will air two and one-half hours of live coverage on Saturday from 12:30 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. (Pacific time) ... This is the first time since 1982 that the NCAA Track & Field Championships have been televised live on network television.
Men's Results
1500 Meters (prelims): 1. Vincent Romo (S. Alabama) 3:40.22q; 8. Rolf Steier (S) 3:45.08q; 11. Russell Brown (S) 3:48.24q
10,000 Meters (final): 1. Josphat Boit (Ark) 28:37.64; 12. Brett Gotcher (S) 29:24.48; 17. Neftalem Araia (S) 29:39.68; 24. Hari Mix (S) 31:06.16
Women's Results
100 Meters (semifinals): 1. Kerron Stewart (Auburn) 11.18q; 9. Janice Davis (S) 11.42q
100 Meters (prelims): 1. Shalonda Solomon (S. Carolina) 11.23q; 11. Janice Davis (S) 11.49q; 19. Chauntae Bayne-Hackett (S) 11.60nq
800 Meters (semifinals): 1. Alysia Johnson (C) 2:04.76q; 7. Ashley Freeman (S) 2:05.61q
Hammer (prelims): 1. Eva Orban (USC) 214-3 (65.31m)q; 3. Sarah Hopping (S) 211-5 (64.45m)q
Long Jump (final): 1. Jovanee Jarrett (Auburn) 21-2 1/2 (6.46m); 3. Erica McLain (S) 21-0 1/2 (6.41m)
Shot Put (prelims): 1. Laura Gerraughty (UNC) 59-5 3/4 (18.13m); 23. Melissa Yunghans (S) 49-2 1/2 (15.00m)nq