SACRAMENTO, Calif. – With one throw of the discus, Jaimi Salone went from good to great and secured a spot at the NCAA Track and Field Championships.
The Stanford junior shattered their lifetime best by 16 feet for a distance of 185-1 (56.41 meters). It was good for seventh in the women's discus at the NCAA West Prelims at Sacramento State's Hornet Stadium on Friday on the second day of the three-day meet.
Two other Cardinal advanced to Austin, Texas, for June 5-8 outdoor championships – women's pole vaulter Kaitlyn Merritt and men's steeplechaser Steven Fahy. This will be the second NCAA outdoor berth for each. It's the first for Salone. Nine Stanford athletes have advanced to Austin so far.
Salone entered the meet as the 38th seed in a field of 48. Only the top 12 would advance. The field was divided into three flights of 16 throwers, with the first flight being the weakest group of competitors, the second is stronger and the third is the best of the best. Salone was in the first flight, and thrust themself into the qualification conversation with a throw that dwarfed Salone's previous best of 168-9 (51.45m).
The throw placed Salone as No. 4 on Stanford's all-time performers' list, from not being in the top 10 heading into the meet. Only Valarie Allman (2018, 208-6), Carol Cady (1983, 207-8), and Summer Pierson (2000, 190-0) have thrown farther.
As the second and third flights commenced, Salone dropped slightly in the standings, but the throw was more than enough to secure an NCAA spot.
Like Salone, Merritt also established a lifetime best, and it was enough to get her to the NCAA Championships for the second consecutive year.
Merritt, a redshirt junior, jumped 14-2 (4.32m), which was the highest the competition went, having determined the 12 to advance. Merritt's night included some drama. She missed twice at 12-10 ¼ (3.92m), only to recover and clear the bar on her third try.
A first-try clearance at 14-0 (4.27m) was enough to get Merritt to Austin. A second-try clearance at 14-2 was enough to strengthen her hold as the second-best vaulter in school history, behind only reigning Olympic champion Katerina Stefanidi.
Fahy, the two-time Pac-12 champ, looked like he was on the top of his game as he won the third heat of the steeplechase in 8:39.60. He was third at the NCAA Championships last year and appears ready to contend once again.
Fahy took the lead with about 600 meters to go and outsprinted BYU's Matt Owens to the line.
Ashlan Best did not reach Austin in the 400, but ran a lifetime best 52.86. Best was eighth in her heat and 16th overall. Her time moved her from No. 6 to No. 4 on Stanford's all-time list.
In the men's javelin, Liam Christensen held the 12th and final qualification position until Texas A&M's Sam Hardin, the third-from-last thrower, eclipsed Christensen on his final throw. Christensen finished 13th at 220-10 (67.31m).
Stanford's NCAA qualifiers so far are: Steven Fahy (men's 3,000 steeplechase), Jenna Gray (women's javelin), Mackenzie Little (women's javelin), Abbie McNulty (women's 10,000), Kaitlyn Merritt (women's pole vault), Virginia Miller (women's javelin), Rachel Reichenbach (women's high jump), Jaimi Salone (women's discus), Harrison Williams (men's decathlon).
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Friday's Stanford results
NCAA West Prelims
At Hornet Stadium, Sacramento State
Men
800 – 18, Hari Sathyamurthy 1:50.04.
Javelin – 13, Liam Christensen 220-10 (67.31m); 29, Will Kingsfield 203-2 (61.93m).
3,000 steeplechase – 7, Steven Fahy 8:39.60. Fahy advances to NCAA Championships.
Women
200 – 13, Ashlan Best 23.21. Best advances to Saturday's final round.
400 – 16, Ashlan Best 52.86 (PB, No. 4 Stanford AT).
Pole vault – 7, Kaitlyn Merritt 14-2 (4.32m) (PB, No. 2 Stanford AT); 42, Erika Malaspina 12-4 ½ (3.77m). Merritt advances to NCAA Championships.
Discus – 7, Jaimi Salone 185-1 (56.41m) (PB, No. 4 Stanford AT). Salone advances to NCAA Championships.
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Stanford's Remaining Schedule
Saturday
3 p.m.: Women's triple jump final (Aria Small).
6:30 p.m.: Women's 1,500 quarterfinal (Ella Donaghu, Jessica Lawson, Jordan Oakes).
7:35 p.m.: Women's 200 quarterfinal (Ashlan Best).
8:05 p.m.: Women's 5,000 quarterfinal (Abbie McNulty, Jordan Oakes, Fiona O'Keeffe).
8:45 p.m.: Men's 5,000 quarterfinal (Grant Fisher, Connor Lane, Alex Ostberg, Clayton Mendez, and Thomas Ratcliffe).
9:25 p.m.: Women's 4x400 relay quarterfinal.