May 27, 2011

EUGENE, Ore. - Senior Steve Sodaro qualified for the NCAA Championships in the men's 3000-meter steeplechase for the second year in a row and senior Tracey Stewart reached the national finals in the women's triple jump for the first time to highlight Cal's Friday at the NCAA West Preliminary Rounds at Hayward Field.

Competing in the last event of the evening, Sodaro stayed near the front of the pack throughout his heat, finishing second in a season-best 8:49.97. The top three in each of three heats plus the next three fastest in the steeplechase all earned invitations to the NCAA meet in Des Moines, Iowa, next month. Sodaro's time was sixth best among all competitors.

Last year, Sodaro placed sixth at nationals during a season in which he also captured the Pac-10 title in a PR 8:40.60.

Stewart, who was 20th in the triple jump at the preliminary meet in 2010, improved to fifth place in her final go-around. She stood in 13th place - one spot out of advancing - through three jumps and improved two positions with a jump of 41-8.50 on her fourth attempt. Stewart then made a big leap up the leader board with an effort of 42-7.00 on her fifth try. With her spot at NCAA's secured, she passed on her final jump.

Senior Rowena Tam missed out on advancing by the slightest of margins in the women's 3000-meter steeplechase despite setting a Cal record and improving her PR by 18 seconds. Tam crossed the line in 10:14.94, just 0.86 seconds out of the 12th and final qualifying position. Her final lap split was 1:19.41, her best of any lap in the race. In addition to Tam, Taylor Bryson was 38th in a PR 10:40.76.

Marielle Schlueter established the old school mark in the women's steeple of 10:22.38 in 2002, while Tam's previous lifetime best was 10:32.79 from the Big Meet earlier this year.

In the men's 110-meter hurdles, junior Ray Stewart easily qualified for the second round. He posted the sixth-fastest qualifying time, covering the distance in 13.79 seconds. Stewart was second in his heat behind Andrew Riley of Illinois, who led qualifiers with a time of 13.53.

The hurdles quarterfinals will get underway Saturday at 2:20 p.m., where top three from each quarterfinal plus the next three fastest times will advance to the NCAA national meet.

Junior Linda Oseso came within five inches of her PR in the hammer, but fell just short of qualifying for the national meet. Her best effort of 188-2 placed her 16th in the field of 48 with only the top 12 advancing. Freshman Chioma Amaechi took 25th in the hammer with a mark of 180-3.

Emani Truluck ran 13.87 in the women's 100-meter hurdles and narrowly missed the quarterfinals as she had the fastest time among the non-qualifiers.

Senior Cherrelle Garrett stepped onto the track twice Friday. In the 100-meter quarterfinals, she finished 16th in 11.76, and she was timed in 24.74 in the 200 meters but did not advance.

The West Preliminary Round meet concludes Saturday with qualifying in 12 running events and four field events.

NCAA West Preliminary Rounds
Friday, May 27, 2011 / Hayward Field / Eugene, Ore.

Complete Results

California Results
Men
110-meter hurdles (first round) - 6. Ray Stewart 13.79q; 37. Aaron Burney 14.65; 39. Mike Morrison 14.72

400-meter hurdles (quarterfinal) - 23. Monte Corley 52.90

3000-meter steeplechase (quarterfinal) - 6. Steve Sodaro 8:49.97

High Jump (first round) - 14. Nick Ridge 6-9.00 (2.06m); 28. Brian Carmichael 6-7.00 (2.01m)

Women
100 meters (quarterfinal) - 16. Cherrelle Garrett 11.76

200 meters (first round) - 37. Cherrelle Garrett 24.74

100-meter hurdles (first round) - 24. Emani Truluck 13.87

400-meter hurdles (quarterfinal) - 21. Angelica Weaver 1:01.75

3000-meter steeplechase (quarterfinal) - 13. Rowena Tam 10:14.94 (Cal record; old mark 10:22.38, Marielle Schlueter, 2002); 38. Taylor Bryson 10:40.76

Pole Vault (first round) - 23. Allison Stokke 12-7.50 (3.85m); 28. Allison Stokke 12-7.50 (3.85m)

Triple Jump (first round) - 5. Tracey Stewart 42-7.00w (12.98m, +2.6); 31. Amanda Hunter 39-1.00 (11.91m)

Hammer (first round) - 16. Linda Oseso 188-2 (56.37m); 25. Chioma Amaechi 180-3 (54.96m)