Mead grad Maricich places 23rd in high jump

DES MOINES, Iowa – University of Washington sophomore A.J. Maricich, out of Mead High School, placed 23rd in the men’s high jump on Thursday at the NCAA Outdoor Track and Field Championships.

Maricich cleared 6 feet, 10 3/4 inches, but was unable to clear 7-0 1/2. He placed second in the NCAA West Prelims with a personal best of 7-2 1/2.

Kansas State’s Erik Kynard, the defending champion, won at 7-9 1/4. He took one unsuccessful try at 7-9 3/4, the collegiate record.

Idaho junior Mike Marshall, from Yakima, placed 17th in the men’s javelin at 224-9. He has a best of 230-6, ranked third all time for the Vandals.

Tim Glover defended his title with a throw of 268-0.

Boise State’s Kurt Felix, who’ll compete for his native Grenada in the London Olympics, won the decathlon with 8,062 points.

In women’s competition, TCU’s Whitney Gipson took the long jump in 22-4 1/2, while LSU star Kimberlyn Duncan topped her world-leading time in the 200 meters by qualifying for the finals in 22.19 seconds.

Texas A&M’s Natosha Rogers won the day’s only final on the track, the 10,000, in 32:41.63.

The 10 points Rogers gave the Aggies will come in handy as they vie for their fourth straight team title.