University of Minnesota Athletics
University of Minnesota
NCAA West Prelim
Five More Gophers Advance
5/25/2018 12:00:00 AM | Women's Track & Field
SACRAMENTO, Calif. -- Emma Spagnola, Emerald Egwim, Titania Markland, Agnes Esser, and Madeline Strandemo secured NCAA Championship berths as the No. 11 University of Minnesota women's track & field team moved its NCAA qualifier tally to 10 individuals on day two of the NCAA West Prelim at Hornet Stadium on Friday.
Spagnola secured an NCAA Championship berth with a career-best time in the 400m hurdles, improving on her own Gophers' program record time of 56.51 seconds to finish as runner-up at the NCAA West Prelim. She also advanced to Saturday's quarterfinal round of the 100m hurdles after winning her first round heat in 13.07 seconds.
Egwim and Markland both advanced to the NCAA Championship in the 400m dash as Egwim finished eighth in 52.42 seconds and Egwim placed 11th in 52.53 seconds. A two-time All-American, Egwim is making her third NCAA Championship appearance and second in the 400m dash after placing 16th indoors and 20th outdoors during the 2017 season. Meanwhile, Markland secured her third overall NCAA Championship berth after advancing as part of the Gophers' 4x400m relay team in both 2014 and 2015.
Esser became Minnesota's fifth NCAA qualifier in the field events, placing 11th in the discus with a throw of 53.27m (174-09) on her third and final attempt. She secured her third career NCAA Championship appearance after placing 11th in the weight throw indoors in 2018 and 15th in the discus outdoors in 2016. Kiley Sabin also recorded a throw of 51.39m (168-07) to place 17th in the discus a day after earning an NCAA Championship appearance in the shot put.
Day two wrapped up with the 3,000m steeplechase where Strandemo punched her ticket back to the NCAA Championship after placing ninth in the event and earning Second Team All-America honors at the national meet last season. Strandemo improved on her own Minnesota program record with a career-best time of 9:51.49 to place fourth in her heat and fifth overall to move on, upping Minnesota's total to 10 individual NCAA Championship qualifiers with one day of competition remaining at the NCAA West Prelim.
Karlie Place also competed on day two of the NCAA West Prelim, tying for 22nd in pole vault by clearing 3.93m (12-10.75).
Day one of the NCAA West Prelim saw Sabin (shot put), Nicolle Murphy (javelin), Heta Tuuri (high jump), and Ashley Ramacher (high jump) secure NCAA Championship berths by placing in the top 12 of their respective events.
Competition at the NCAA West Prelim wraps up on Saturday with the Gophers slated to compete in hammer throw, triple jump, 100m hurdles, 5,000m, and 4x400m relay. The NCAA Championship is set for June 6-9 in Eugene, Ore.
NCAA Championship Qualifiers
2. Emma Spagnola, 400m hurdles (56.51 seconds)
4. Nicolle Murphy, javelin (52.22m, 171-04)
5. Madeline Strandemo, 3,000m steeplechase (9:51.49)
8. Emerald Egwim, 400m (52.42 seconds)
8. Kiley Sabin, shot put (16.42m, 53-10.50)
T-9. Heta Tuuri, high jump (1.80m, 5-10.75)
11. Agnes Esser, discus (53.27m, 174-09)
11. Titania Markland, 400m (52.53 seconds)
T-11. Ashley Ramacher, high jump (1.75m, 5-08.75)
-- Ayesha Champagnie, heptathlon (5,821 points)
###
