Razorbacks advance four to Eugene from NCAA West
FAYETTEVILLE – Arkansas women advanced three pole vaulters – Amanda Fassold, Mackenzie Hayward, and Bailee McCorkle – to Eugene for the NCAA Championships along with Lauren Gregory in the 10,000m during the second day of the NCAA West Preliminary Rounds at John McDonnell Field.
In events with qualifying to Saturday quarterfinals, the production by Arkansas was exceptional. Nine Razorbacks advanced in 10 of 12 opportunities over seven events. Joanne Reid led the way in advancing in two events, the 100m and 200m, where she established a career best of 23.30.
Also advancing from the first round of races were Yoveinny Mota (100m hurdles), Krissy Gear (1,500m), Jada Baylark (100m), Morgan Burks-Magee (400m), Rosey Effiong (400m), Quinn Owen (800m), Kennedy Thomson (800m), and Britton Wilson (400m hurdles).
This will mark the third consecutive time Arkansas advances three vaulters to the NCAA Outdoor Championships, and the seventh time since 2009. Six of the 12 pole vaulters advancing to Eugene cleared a height of 13-9.75 (4.21), while the other half of the field was determined at 13-5.75 (4.11).
SEC champion Fassold, who is from Hillsboro, Oregon, cleared three bars to reach the 13-9.75 mark, needing second attempts on the last two bars. Season best vaults for Hayward and McCorkle had them making 13-5.75 when 13 vaulters were left.
Baylor’s Tuesdi Tidwell also cleared 13-5.75 but needed three attempts at 12-11.75 (3.96) and 13-5.75, so she lost the tie-breaker situation with McCorkle, who cleared 12-11.75 on her second attempt while needing a third attempt at 13-5.75.
Gregory led the 10,000m field at various times and placed third with a time of 33:37.79, finishing behind Grace Forbes of Rice (33:35.30) and New Mexico’s Emma Heckel (33:37.70). This was only the second 10,000m for Gregory, who clocked 32:34.21 in her April debut.
Mota led things off advancing in the 100m hurdles (13.13), while Krissy Gear finished second overall in the 1,500 (4:17.90). Baylark advanced with an 11.38 in the 100m while Reid had an 11.55.
In the 400m, times of 52.10 and 52.20 had Burks-Magee and Effiong producing the fifth and seventh best times. A career best of 2:05.48 had Owen finishing third in her heat of the 800m while Thomson advanced on time in 2:07.09.
A 57.03 for Wilson won her heat of the 400m hurdles, which was third best overall. Arizona’s Shannon Meisberger led the field with a 56.12 followed by a 56.65 for Deshaie Wise of Texas A&M.
