University of Minnesota Athletics
Eighteen Gophers Qualify for NCAA Prelim
5/21/2015 12:00:00 AM | Women's Track & Field
May 21, 2015
NCAA West Prelim Qualifiers | Schedule | USTFCCCA Championship Central
MINNEAPOLIS -- Eighteen Gopher women's track & field competitors have qualified for the 2015 NCAA West Preliminary hosted by the University of Texas at Austin in Austin, Texas, May 28-30.
The qualifiers out of the East and West regions will advance to the NCAA Division I Men's and Women's Outdoor Track & Field Championships held June 10-13 in Eugene, Ore.
Minnesota's 18 qualifiers is the most for the program since sending 24 student-athletes to the preliminary round in 2010. This season, seven Gophers qualified in multiple events, and Minnesota will have representatives in 12 total events at the West Prelim, including the 4x400-meter relay.
Devin Stanford and Liz Berkholtz lead the way for Minnesota as each makes her third appearance at the West Prelim. Stanford will compete in the discus and the hammer for the third-straight season, and Berkholtz makes her 5,000m debut after competing in the 10,000m the last two seasons.
Kaila Urick (3,000m steeplechase), Katie Murgic (pole vault), Lyndsey Thorpe (hammer throw), and Nicolle Murphy (javelin) are all making their second-straight appearance in their respective events. In addition, Angie Guenther will compete at the West Prelim for the second-consecutive season, qualifying in the hammer throw this year after competing in the discus a year ago.
Minnesota's sprint corps also features repeat West Prelim qualifiers as Erin Hawkins (100m, 4x400m relay), Titania Markland (400m, 4x400m relay) and Jessica Waldvogel (4x400m relay) all return to the NCAA opening round. The trio all competed in relays at the West Prelim last season, and rookie Emerald Egwim completes this year's 4x400m relay team along with qualifying individually in the 400m.
Eight Gophers are making their NCAA West Prelim debut this season as Egwim (400m, 4x400m relay), Ally McSherry (800m), Lauren Domski (800m), Emma Spagnola (100m hurldes, 400m hurdles), Taylor Mikkalson (3,000m steeplechase), Agnes Esser (discus, hammer throw), Ke-ke Burks (discus, hammer throw), and Rachel Melum (javelin) round out the Maroon & Gold qualifiers.
Action at the West Prelim gets underway on Thursday, May 28 at Texas's Mike A. Myers Stadium. The first women's event is the hammer throw at 2 p.m. CT Thursday.
All-meet tickets for the 2015 NCAA West Prelim are now on sale ($35 for adults, $25 for college students, youth, and seniors). Single-day tickets go on sale May 28 and are priced at $15 for adults and $10 for college students, youth, and seniors. All seats are general admission. Tickets may be purchased online at TexasSports.com or by calling (512) 471-3333.
Big Ten heptathlon champion Jess Herauf has also earned a bid straight to the NCAA Outdoor Track & Field Championships as the multi-event competitions are not held at the preliminary round meets.
Gopher NCAA West Preliminary Competitors
Erin Hawkins, 100m and 4x400m relay
Titania Markland, 400m and 4x400m relay
Emerald Egwim, 400m and 4x400m relay
Jessica Waldvogel, 4x400m relay
Ally McSherry, 800m
Lauren Domski, 800m
Liz Berkholtz, 5,000m
Emma Spagnola, 100m hurldes and 400m hurdles
Kaila Urick, 3,000m steeplechase
Taylor Mikkalson, 3,000m steeplechase
Katie Murgic, pole vault
Agnes Esser, discus and hammer throw
Devin Stanford, discus and hammer throw
Ke-ke Burks, discus and hammer throw
Lyndsey Thorpe, hammer throw
Angie Guenther, hammer throw
Nicolle Murphy, javelin
Rachel Melum, javelin
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Players Mentioned
