2016 NCAA West Preliminaries Friday Results

LAWRENCE, Kan.—South Dakota senior Emily Grove and junior Emily Brigham punched tickets to the NCAA Championships by placing in the top 12 of the women's pole vault at the NCAA West Preliminaries on Friday at Rock Chalk Park.
 
Brigham and Grove both cleared 13 feet, 6 ¼ inches on their first attempt to solidify their status among the top 12. A total of 22 athletes cleared 13-6 ¼, but only six made it over 13-10. The Coyote duo advanced based on misses. The pole vault final is set for 5 p.m. Thursday, June 9, at Hayward Field in Eugene, Ore.


 
This will be the first time since 2013 that the Coyotes have advanced two women's pole vaulters to Eugene. In the historic 2013 season, alumna Bethany (Buell) Firsick won USD's first Division I national title and Grove placed seventh to earn All-America honors.
 
"Our athletes have handled the adversity thrown at them over the past two days with incredible resilience," said Director of Track & Field/Cross Country Lucky Huber. "To have Emily Grove and Emily Brigham advance to Eugene is great for our program. While the schedule changes and rain delays have been tough on everyone, our athletes have come out ready to compete and improve upon where they were seeded."
 
Eight Coyotes improved upon their seed marks Friday.
 
Sophomore Gawain Williams clocked 10.44 seconds for third in his heat and 19th overall in the 100 meters. The final qualifying spot to Eugene, Ore., was 10.36.
 
Traditionally, the top 24 athletes in the sprint events advance to a quarterfinal. The three-heat quarterfinal then determines which 12 athletes punch tickets to Eugene. Due to inclement weather Thursday, the preliminary rounds were eliminated and all events were changed to quarterfinals. The winner of each heat and next six fastest times advanced.
 
Senior Meghan Dennis sent the javelin 153-7 ahead of the weather delay Thursday. After the event concluded Friday morning, she finished in 24th, an improvement of 11 places from her ranking.
 
Senior Peter Chapman and sophomore Jake David placed 25th and 26th, respectively, in the pole vault. Both cleared 16-10 with Chapman making the bar on his first attempt and David on his second. Both missed all three attempts at 17-3 ¾, the height it took to qualify for Eugene.
 
Junior Tyler Frank jumped 6-9 ½ for 27th in the high jump, improving from his No. 34 seed.
 
Senior Analisa Huschle reached 19-1 ¼ in the long jump to tie for the top spot of the first flight. She finished 28th overall, 17 spots ahead of her No. 45 seed.
 
Junior Danielle Waldner launched the hammer with a throw of 182-9 for 35th in the event, near her seed of 37th. Waldner competes in the shot put tomorrow at 9:30 a.m.
 
Senior Kelsey Barrett finished 37th in the 10,000 meters with a 36:26.39 clocking. It was also an 11-place improvement, as she entered the meet in the 48th position.
 
Senior Jeff O'Connell leaped 22-7 ¼ for 42nd in the long jump. He had the 48th seed in the field.