SACRAMENTO, Calif. – With places at the NCAA Championship on the line, Cal opened up competition at the NCAA West Prelims on Thursday afternoon at Hornet Stadium in Sacramento.
 
Down to potentially the final throw of his season, Silviu Bocancea wouldn't let the year die. The junior recorded a personal best with a throw of 215-11 to finish fourth and claim a spot at the NCAA Championship in Eugene, Ore. Bocancea won his flight by more than six feet, but had to wait out the final flight to ensure his spot. His mark also ranks as the third-best hammer throw in school history. He will be the first Cal men's hammer thrower to advance to the NCAA Championship since Scott Esparza in 2012. Bocancea fouled his first throw and then recorded a mark of 203-10 on his second throw. That throw would only have placed him 20^th and ended his season. After not recording a personal best at all during the 2018 season, Bocancea pulled through on his last chance.
 
Paramveer Chohan ran a personal best of 51.75 to finish 27^th in the men's 400m hurdle race. Chohan bided his down during the first 200m as he was in eighth heading into the second half of the race. However, the sophomore turned it on during the stretch to take fourth in his heat. However, with the top three spots receiving bids to the next round, his PR wasn't enough.
 
Noelle Schiller finished third in her flight of the long jump with a mark of 19-5.50. Overall, the freshman placed 17th out of the 48 people competing in the event. After the first two flights finished, Schiller sat in fourth place among the participants, however after the final 24 jumpers took to the runways, she ended up just missing a berth at NCAA Nationals and a top 12 spot by 2.5 inches.
 
Chrissy Glasmann finished 46^th in the women's javelin. Glasmann slid on her first two attempts as she fouled both. On her third attempt, Glasmann notched a mark of 130-6.
 
The Bears will be back in action tomorrow looking to place more people in the NCAA Championship. The day gets started at 12 p.m. with the men's discus featuring Malik McMorris and McKay Johnson. Amarie Bremel (discus), Kendall Mader (discus) and Lauren Martinez (pole vault) will also look to qualify in field events which start at 4:30 p.m. On the track, Ashtyn Davis looks to get past the first round of the men's 110m dash at 4:30 p.m. The day will conclude with Kai Benedict, Takeshi Okada and Annie Boos competing in the 3000m steeplechase starting at 8:20 p.m.

THURSDAY
Women
Long Jump: 17. Noelle Schiller, 19-5.50
Javelin: 46. Chrissy Glasmann, 130-6
 
Men
400 Hurdles First Round: 27. Paramveer Chohan, 51.75
Hammer: 4. Silviu Bocancea, 215-11