June 7, 2012

DES MOINES, Iowa - Junior Deborah Maier took third in the 10,000 meters and redshirt-freshman Harrison Steed finished eighth in the men's high jump to give the Golden Bears a pair of All-Americans on the second day of the NCAA Track & Field Championships Thursday.

Competition at Drake Stadium continues through Saturday with Cal having three more chances to add to its point total. Scott Esparza in the hammer and Chad Jones in the triple jump will show their skills Friday, while Chelsea Reilly will be on the track in the 5000 meters Saturday.

Maier completed an outstanding 2011-12 campaign which began with an 11th-place finish at the NCAA cross country meet, tying for the best result in school history. She later earned national runner-up honors in the 3000 and 5000 meters at the NCAA indoor meet.

During the outdoor season, Maier became the No. 3 performer in the 10,000 meters in collegiate history when she was timed in 32:12.47 on April 29.

In Thursday's race, Maier led for much of the race before allowing Texas A&M's Natosha Rogers and Wichita State's Aliphine Tuliamuk to set the pace. Although Maier remained with the lead pack to the end, she did not have a kick to match Rogers (32:41.3) or Tuliamuk (32:45.43), who placed 1-2, respectively. Maier crossed the line in 32:47.20, just ahead of Meaghan Nelson of Iowa State, who was timed in 32:47.43.

Maier's result matches the top 10K performance at NCAA's for the Bears, as Kirsten O'Hara was also third in 1988.

Steed, the highest placing freshman in the high jump, set a Cal PR with a clearance of 7-2.50. He didn't miss on either of his first two attempts at 6-8.75 and 6-10.75. Once the bar reached 7-0.50, he had to wait until his third try to remain in the competition. At 7-2.50, Steed again cleared on his first attempt before bowing out at 7-4.25.

Steed's mark puts him in ninth place on Cal's all-time performer list in the high jump. It beat his previous collegiate best of 7-1.50 set during NCAA qualifying in Austin, Texas, two weeks ago, while height tied his lifetime PR established as a high school senior in 2010.

Senior Brian Carmichael, also in the high jump field, completed his career with a 15th-place finish. He remained alive through the first three heights, topping out at 7-0.50 in his first appearance at the NCAA Championships.

NCAA Championships
Drake Stadium / Des Moines, Iowa

Complete Results

Men's High Jump - 8. Harrison Steed 7-2.50 (2.20m); 15. Brian Carmichael 7-0.50 (2.15m)

Women's 10,000m - 3. Deborah Maier 32:47.20