University of Minnesota Athletics
University of Minnesota
NCAA Outdoor West Preliminary
Stanford Punches Ticket to NCAA Championship
5/28/2015 12:00:00 AM | Women's Track & Field
May 28, 2015
AUSTIN, Texas -- Senior Devin Stanford became the first Gopher to advance to the NCAA Outdoor Track & Field National Championship with a 10th place finish in the hammer throw as the Minnesota women's track & field team competed on day one of the NCAA West Prelim Thursday evening.
Stanford tied her Minnesota program record with a throw of 61.82m (202-10) to place 10th and earn her second-straight trip to the national meet in the hammer throw. She threw 59.20m on her first throw, 61.82m on her second, and 61.65m on her third attempt.Â
"We're super excited for Devin," director of women's track & field and cross country Matt Bingle said. "It was a great series for her, one of the best of her career. We're happy to have her through to the championships, and we just have to keep rocking tomorrow."
Four other Gophers also competed in the hammer throw, as Minnesota had the most entries of any team in the women's hammer at either the East or West Prelim. Lyndsey Thorpe (57.63m, 189-1), Angie Guenther (56.08m, 184-0), and Agnes Esser (54.67m, 179-4) placed 27th, 33rd, and 40th, respectively, and Ke-ke Burks fouled all three of her attempts.
The Gophers had runners in four first-round events on the track on Thursday as well, led by Emerald Egwim and Titania Markland, who both advanced to Friday's 400m quarterfinal.
Markland finished third in her heat in 54.04 to automatically qualify, while Egwim ran a career-best 53.70 to take fourth in her heat but advance based on her time. Egwim also moves into fourth among all-time Gopher 400m runners with her career-best mark.
"The 400m was good," Bingle said. "It was a lifetime best for Emerald, and Titania did what she needed to do to qualify for the quarterfinal round."
Lauren Domski (2:10.60) and Ally McSherry (2:11.17) raced in the first round of the 800m, finishing 29th and 36th, respectively.
"It was a very tactical race in the 800m," Bingle said. "It started off pretty slow, and then everybody took off. In the 100m, Erin Hawkins ran a PR with a 3.6 wind. Overall, everybody walked away either having learned something or feeling good about what they've done, so we're happy with the day."
Hawkins came in 33rd in the 100m dash in a career-best 11.58 to move into a tie for fourth among all-time Gophers, and Emma Spagnola placed 44th in the 400m hurdles (1:02.35) in her NCAA West Prelim debut. Spagnola will race in the 100m hurdles first round on Friday, and Hawkins is the third runner on Minnesota's 4x400m relay Saturday evening.
Action at the NCAA West Prelim continues Friday and Saturday, beginning with Esser, Stanford, and Burks competing in the discus at noon CT Friday.
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Players Mentioned
