COLLEGE STATION, Texas – Thirteen women from the California track & field team competed at Texas A&M's E.B. Cushing Stadium on Thursday, looking to either advance past the NCAA West Regional to the upcoming NCAA Outdoor Championships in Eugene, Oregon, or qualify for Saturday's quarterfinals races.
 
For the first time in school history, three women's hammer throwers advanced to the NCAA final – the first time that any program has qualified three women since USC did so in 2012. Freshman Valentina Savva will be one of just two freshmen in the field in Eugene and the only one from the West Region after leading the entire competition with a mark of 67.75m (222-3). Audrey Jacobs advanced to her second-career NCAA final after leading the first three flights with a season-best 64.94m (213-1), while ACC Champion Giavonna Meeks will throw at her first outdoor NCAA final after posting a mark of 64.55m (211-9). Adrianna Coleman and Amanda Spear also threw for the Bears, posting marks of 57.90m/189-11 and 55.58m/183-3, respectively.
 
Later, in the shot put, Lucija Leko added nearly a foot to her own school record, placing seventh in the field to book her spot in the final with a mark of 17.10m (56-1.25) and become the first Cal female shot putter to advance since Dana Lawson in 2001. Leko's addition to the Eugene-bound group brought Cal's total of qualifying female throwers to four – a new program best.
 
"As Joe Kapp said, 'The Bear will not quit. The Bear will not die'," said assistant coach Mohamad Saatara, drawing on the words of the legendary Cal football head coach.
 
The Bears also performed well in the 100m hurdles, with two women qualifying for Saturday's quarterfinal. Asjah Atkinson finished third in her heat with a personal-best time of 13.22 to improve her program No. 4 mark and earn the auto-Q, while Saqqara Ruffin raced to a massive wind-aided PR of 13.24 – the fastest non-automatic qualifying time of all entrants. Mari Testa finished just 0.03 seconds off her own personal best with a time of 13.48, but did not place high enough to advance.
 
Atkinson also competed in the women's long jump, posting a mark of 5.98m (19-7.5). Jayden Hill's season ended with a time of 2:07.10 in the 800m, while Loreal Wilson finished one spot short of qualification with a time of 58.68 and Ali Sahaida posted a mark of 4.17m (13-8.25) in the pole vault for her best performance at a regional meet.
 
 
NCAA WEST REGIONALS – WOMEN'S RESULTS (Day 2)
800m Prelim – 28. Jayden Hill 2:07.10
100m Hurdles Prelim – 16. Asjah Atkinson 13.22 (Q, PR, 4th Cal History); 17. Saqqara Ruffin 13.24w (q, wind-aided PR); 32. Mari Testa 13.48
400m Hurdles Prelim – 25. Loreal Wilson 58.68
Pole Vault – T31. Ali Sahaida 4.17m/13-8.25
Long Jump – 37. Asjah Atkinson 5.98m/19-7.5)
Shot Put – 7. Lucija Leko 17.10m/56-1.25 (Q, PR, School Record)
Hammer – 1. Valentina Savva 67.75m/222-3 (q); 5. Audrey Jacobs 64.94m/213-1 (q); 7. Giavonna Meeks 64.55m/211-9 (q); 26. Adrianna Coleman 57.90m/189-11; 35. Amanda Spear 55.58m/183-3
 
 
UP NEXT
Cal's men will finish up Friday, starting with the men's discus at 11 a.m. PT.
 
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