FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – Two women from the California track & field team qualified for the upcoming NCAA Outdoor Championships on Thursday, leading a group of 11 Golden Bears competing in the NCAA West Regionals at Arkansas's John McDonnell Field in hopes of extending their collegiate seasons by one more meet.
 
To start off the day, reigning ACC women's hammer champion Valentina Savva launched the implement 69.18m (227-0) on her second attempt to finish in the point position by a dominant four feet, three inches, to punch her ticket to the NCAA final for the second consecutive season. Either of the sophomore's two legal throws would have put her atop the field, with her first attempt sailing 68.76m (225-7).
 
"I'm really proud of how Vale executed today," said assistant coach Tyler Burdorff, who leads the throws group. Her training has been much more consistent and her performances in championship season are reflecting that. She's getting close to a much bigger throw at the right time, and we're excited for the next two weeks."
 
To bookend Thursday's competition, senior Ali Sahaida achieved a milestone that no Cal pole vaulter has done since Lauren Martinez in 2018: qualify for both the NCAA Indoor and Outdoor Championships in the same season. Sahaida, who ended her indoor campaign with a fifth-place finish on the national stage, advanced to her first NCAA Outdoor Championships with a mark of 4.43m (14-6.25), overcoming a difficult three-attempt run at the previous bar (4.33m/14-6.25) before clearing what would be the qualifying height on her first try.
 
"Ali stepped up with some clutch jumps right when she needed them the most," said assistant coach Dan Lefever, who heads the vertical jumps and multi-events group. "Such a fighter. She was determined to get through."
 
Of Cal's three track athletes competing Thursday, one – sophomore Inara Ukawuba – advanced to the next round of competition after taking third in her 100m hurdles heat with a wind-aided time of 13.39, automatically qualifying for Saturday's quarterfinals.
 
Rookie Caitlyn Johnson posted the second-best mark of her career in the long jump with a best leap of 6.11m (20-0.5). Fellow freshman and pole vaulter Kai Anderson was the only Cal man to compete Thursday after a weather delay forced him to compete a day later than originally intended, ending his season with a mark of 5.22m (17-1.5).
 
NCAA WEST REGIONALS – DAY 2 RESULTS
Women's 200m First Round – 28. Nairobi Smith 23.65
Women's 800m First Round – 40. Salma Bejia 2:09.61
Women's 100m Hurdles First Round – 18. Inara Ukawuba 13.39w (Q); 28. Saqqara Ruffin 13.48
Men's Pole Vault – 19. Kai Anderson 5.22m/17-1.5
Women's Pole Vault – 7. Ali Sahaida 4.43m/14-6.25 (q)
Women's Long Jump – 30. Caitlyn Johnson 6.11m/20-0.5
Women's Shot Put – 26. Lucija Leko 15.28m/50-1.75
Women's Hammer – 1. Valentina Savva 69.18m/227-0 (q); 22. Adrianna Coleman 59.71m/195-10; 23. Audrey Jacobs 59.64m/195-8
                                                                                                                                       
UP NEXT
A pair of Cal jumpers will compete Friday at Day 3 of the NCAA West Regionals.
 
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