May 26, 2011

EUGENE, Ore. - Four Golden Bears advanced out of their heats and reached the quarterfinals at the NCAA West Preliminary meet Thursday at Hayward Field. A finish in the top 12 in the next round of competition will send the Cal track & field runners to the national championships in June at Drake University.

The first Bear to qualify for the quarters was sophomore Angelica Weaver, who covered the 400-meter hurdles in 59.73, just 0.07 seconds off her PR. She placed third in her heat, with the top three in each heat advancing to Friday's second round. Overall, Weaver's time ranks 17th among the 24 hurdlers remaining.

In the men's 400 hurdles, freshman Monte Corley earned his berth in the quarterfinals by taking third in heat 1 in 52.07 and will also be back on the track again Friday.

Sophomore Sofia Oberg took fifth her heat of the women's 1500 meters in 4:24.40, with the top five in each heat automatically advancing. She'll seek her berth at nationals on Saturday afternoon. Last year, Oberg just missed reaching the national meet when she was 13th in the 800.

Senior Cherrelle Garret also reached the quarters in the 100 meters, running 11.75 in her sprint, and will race again on Friday.

Although the Bears saw all four of their competitors on the track advance, they didn't fare as well in the field events. Chase Wheeler took 22nd in the long jump with a wind-aided leap of 22-10, while senior Patrick Kowalsky saw his Cal career come to a close with a 37th-place finish in the shot put with his mark of 52-1.75. Neither Mike Morrison in the pole vault or Chioma Amaechi in the shot put recorded a mark. Morrison, though, has already ensured his spot at nationals as he is ranked No. 1 in the country in the decathlon.

Weather conditions in Eugene were cool with temperatures in the 50s and winds gusting to over 15 mph. They are not expected to improve with showers forecast for the final two days of the meet.

Overall, the Bears have 32 athletes competing at the NCAA West Preliminary meet, with more athletes seeing their first action Friday.

NCAA West Preliminary Rounds
Thursday, May 26, 2011 / Hayward Field / Eugene, Ore.

Complete Results

California Results
Men
400-meter hurdles - 23. Monte Corley 52.07

Pole Vault - Mike Morrison NH

Long Jump - 22. Chase Wheeler 23-10.00w (7.26m, +3.6)

Shot Put - 37. Patrick Kowalsky 52-1.75 (15.87m)

Women
100 meters - 23. Cherrelle Garrett 11.75

1500 meters - 19. Sofia Oberg 4:24.40

400-meter hurdles - 17. Angelica Weaver 59.73

Shot Put - Chioma Amaechi NM

Javelin - 37. Dana Hoolko 133-6 (40.69m)