University of Minnesota Athletics
University of Minnesota
NCAA Outdoor West Preliminary
4x400m Relay, Murphy Secure NCAA Berths
5/30/2015 12:00:00 AM | Women's Track & Field
AUSTIN, Texas -- The Minnesota women's track & field team will send three individual competitors and the 4x400-meter relay team to the 2015 NCAA Outdoor Track & Field Championships, it was determined as NCAA preliminary competition concluded Saturday night in Austin, Texas.
Nicolle Murphy earned her first trip to the national meet with a third-place finish in the javelin at the NCAA West Prelim, joining Devin Stanford (hammer throw) and Jess Herauf (heptathlon) to make up Minnesota's three individuals to advance to the national championship. Stanford placed 10th in the hammer at the NCAA West Prelim, and Herauf advanced as the sixth-seeded heptathlete.
The Gophers' 4x400-meter relay team of Jessica Waldvogel, Emerald Egwim, Erin Hawkins, and Titania Markland finished fifth at the NCAA West Prelim and clocked a new Minnesota program record of 3:32.68, breaking the record for the second time this season and punching their ticket to Eugene, Ore., for the NCAA Championships.
"The 4x400m relay was great. I'm very excited for them, and they deserve all the credit," director of women's track & field and cross country Matt Bingle said. "They came together and ran for each other. They were really running for Jess, being a senior, so she gets one more chance to compete."
Minnesota finished third in the second heat of the 4x400m relay to automatically qualify for the national meet as the top three teams in each heat and the next three fastest times moved on. It marks the second-ever trip to the national meet for a Maroon & Gold 4x400m relay after the team of Markland, Waldvogel, Te'Shon Adderley, and Megan Geyen placed 19th last year.
Murphy secured her third-place finish, the highest Gopher finish at the NCAA West Prelim, with a season-best throw of 51.84m (170-1). Meanwhile, Rachel Melum wrapped up her Gophers career with a throw of 45.82m (150-4) to place 17th overall in the javelin.
"It was awesome for Nicolle to move on," Bingle said. "She did a great job and competed very well. I'm very happy for her. She really improved competing in this environment from a year ago. She has matured and really took a hold of the moment."
Saturday's action at the NCAA West Prelim also included Liz Berkholtz finishing 39th in the 5,000-meter run in 17:13.40.
The NCAA Outdoor Track & Field Championships are scheduled for June 10-13 in Eugene, Ore.
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