AUSTIN, Texas – Javelin throwers Mackenzie Little and Jenna Gray became the first Stanford track and field athletes to qualify for the NCAA Championships, through their performances at the NCAA West Prelims on Thursday.
Little, a sophomore, was the third qualifier at 167-7 (51.09m) and Gray, a freshman, qualified 10th with a throw of 158-6 (48.33m). They extended a Stanford NCAA qualifying streak in the javelin to seven years, following Eda Karesin (2011), Brianna Bain (2012-14), Victoria Smith (2015), and Little (2016).
The NCAA West Prelims is a qualifying meet that winnows 48 in each event to 12 for the NCAA Championships June 7-10 in Eugene, Oregon. Combined with those advancing from the East Prelims in Lexington, Kentucky, 24 individuals advance in each event to the NCAA Championships, and stand to earn All-America honors by completing their events in Eugene.
Gray, a three-sport athlete, is in line for her first official All-America honor. She was the starting center for Stanford's national champion volleyball team in the fall, earning All-America honorable mention honors from VolleyballMag.com (though AVCA is the official All-America team), and was part of the Cardinal beach volleyball team's No. 1 tandem.
Little, the two-time Pac-12 champion, had her best throw on her first try, taking the overall lead, which lasted into the third of three rounds. Little heads to her second NCAA meet, having placed seventh last year.
Stanford had six women in the 1,500 meters and five advanced to the 24-runner quarterfinal round, giving the Cardinal 21 percent of the field for Saturday's NCAA-determining heats. Christina Aragon, Maddy Berkson, Elise Cranny, Rebecca Mehra, and Malika Waschmann each went through.
Aragon, Berkson, and Mehra each advanced out of the first heat. Berkson led going into the final lap, but it was Aragon (second, 4:23.87) and Mehra (fifth, 4:24.84) who advanced on place, while Berkson (seventh, 4:25.78) advanced on time. Waschmann ran to a controlled fifth (4:29.27) in the third heat – the top five in each advanced automatically – and Cranny placed fifth in the fourth heat in 4:33.95.
Three Stanford runners – two women and one man -- advanced to Friday's quarterfinal round in the 800.
Olivia Baker won her first-round heat of the 800 and will be joined in the quarterfinal round by freshman teammate Sarah Walker. Baker ran 2:08.17 in Heat 5 and Walker advanced on time while placing fourth in Heat 3, running 2:08.91.
Tai Dinger advanced in the men's division, placing an automatic qualifying third in Heat 5 (1:51.22).
Michael Painter finished one spot from qualifying for Eugene, by placing 13th in the hammer. Painter threw 212-4 (64.73) on the last of his three throws, to close within 10 inches of 12th.
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NCAA West Prelims
At Mike A. Myers Stadium
Stanford results
Men
800 – 21, Tai Dinger 1:51.22. Dinger advances to Friday's quarterfinals.
10,000 – 33, Garrett Sweatt 31:12.08.
Long jump – 30, Jaak Uudmae 24-3 ¾ (7.41m).
Javelin – 21, Trevor Danielson 205-7 (62.67m); 30, Charles Kerr 199-7 (60.85m).
Hammer – 13, Michael Painter 212-4 (64.73m); 44, Tristen Newman 177-7 (54.14m).
Women
400 – 42, Missy Mongiovi 56.02.
800 – 10, Olivia Baker 2:08.17; 16, Sarah Walker 2:08.91. Baker and Walker advances to Friday's quarterfinals.
1,500 – 2, Christina Aragon 4:23.87; 8, Rebecca Mehra 4:24.84; 11, Maddy Berkson 4:25.78; 21, Malika Waschmann 4:29.27; 33, Elise Cranny 4:33.95; 37, Catherine Pagano 4:35.18. Aragon, Mehra, Berkson, Waschmann, and Cranny advances to Saturday's quarterfinals.
10,000 – 33, Abbie McNulty 36:18.88.
Long jump – 40, Daryth Gayles 18-10 (5.74m).
Javelin – 3, Mackenzie Little 167-7 (51.09m); 10, Jenna Gray 158-6 (48.33m); 30, Victoria Smith 141-5 (43.11m). Little and Gray advance to Eugene.
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Friday
2:30 p.m.: Men's shot put first round and semifinal – Flight 2, Tristen Newman. Top 12 advance to Eugene.
2:30 p.m.: Women's high jump first round and semifinal– Flight 1, Rachel Reichenbach. Top 12 advance to Eugene.
4:30 p.m.: Women's 800 quarterfinals -- Heat 2, Olivia Baker, Sarah Walker. Top three in each of three sections, plus next three times, advance to Eugene.
4:45 p.m.: Men's 800 quarterfinals -- Heat 1, Tai Dinger. Top three in each of three sections, plus next three times, advance to Eugene.
6:20 p.m.: Women's 3,000 steeplechase first round – Heat 2, Danielle Katz. Top three from each of three sections, plus next three times, advance to Eugene.
7 p.m.: Men's 3,000 steeplechase first round – Heat 1, Steven Fahy. Top three from each of three sections, plus next three times, advance to Eugene.
Saturday
1 p.m.: Women's triple jump first round and semifinal – Flight 2, Marisa Kwiatkowski. Top 12 advance to Eugene.
4 p.m.: Women's shot put first round and semifinal – Flight 4, Lena Giger. Top 12 advance to Eugene.
4:30 p.m.: Women's 1,500 semifinals -- Christina Aragon, Maddy Berkson, Elise Cranny, Rebecca Mehra, Malika Waschmann. Top three from each of three sections, plus next three times, advance to Eugene.
6:05 p.m.: Women's 5,000 – Heat 1, Fiona O'Keeffe; Heat 2, Sophie Chase, Danielle Katz. Top five from each of two heats, plus next two times, advance to Eugene.
6:45 p.m.: Men's 5,000 – Heat 1, Grant Fisher; Heat 2, Jack Keelan. Top three from each of three sections, plus next three times, advance to Eugene.
7:25 p.m.: Women's 4x400 – Heat 2, Stanford. Top three from each of three sections, plus next three times, advance to Eugene.
