NCAA Bids Pour In for Ducks

Published by Oregon SID on May 27th, 2016

LAWRENCE, Kan. – After inclement weather suspended almost the entirety of Thursday’s competition at the NCAA Track and Field West Preliminary Rounds, storms again caused delays on Friday, but not before Oregon could qualify 12 athletes to the NCAA Championships.

Competitors also had to handle a change in format, with all track events being contested as quarterfinals, meaning competitors would have one chance to move on to Eugene. For the sprint events at 800 meters and below, each heat winner was granted a qualification spot as well as the next six fastest times.

The Ducks advanced all three runners in the women’s 800, with defending NCAA Champion Raevyn Rogers and Annie Leblanc winning their heats andBrooke Feldmeier qualifying on time. Rogers and Leblanc used late charges in the final 100 meters to post nearly identical times of 2:05.36 and 2:05.38, respectively. Feldmeier finished second in her heat with a season best of 2:06.22.

In the women’s 100, Hannah Cunliffe and Ariana Washington each won their heats to secure their spot at the championships meet. Cunliffe ran to a wind-aided time of 11.13, the fastest time in the field. Washington was fourth overall, crossing the finish line in 11.33.

Edward Cheserek became the first of seven Oregon men to officially qualify, running away with the men’s 10,000 to win in 29:45.41, five seconds ahead of the next finisher. The 13-time NCAA Champion will now toe the line in Eugene, looking to win the event for the third-consecutive year.