Lightning interrupts meet
Four Cougs advance on first day of NCAAs
FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – Four Washington State Cougars advanced through the qualifying Wednesday at the NCAA Track and Field Championships, where lightning and rain forced an unplanned intermission midway through the schedule.
Jeshua Anderson and Barry Leavitt cruised through the heats of the 400-meter hurdles and Marissa Tschida qualified for the javelin final before lightning and rain shut down competition at John McDonnell Field. When competition resumed, Trent Arrivey joined them as a finalist by being one of 14 high jumpers who cleared 6 feet, 103/4 inches.
Anderson, the defending champion, won his heat in 50.12 seconds, third fastest of the day, while Leavitt clocked a season-best 50.55 to take second in his race – even though he entered the meet with the next-to-last qualifying time among the 26 competitors. Both will race in the semifinals today.
Tschida moved on to Friday’s javelin final with the fifth-best qualifying throw of 168-6. Eastern Washington’s Michelle Coombs threw 142-6 and did not advance.
Shadle Park graduate Rich Nelson of BYU won his heat of the 3,000 steeplechase in a lifetime-best 8:41.85, but WSU’s Sam Ahlbeck did not advance despite knocking 4 seconds off his best with a run of 8:49.88.
Two other Cougars were knocked out in the prelims – Justin Woods in the 100 (10.35), good for 19th in a field that sends 18 to the semis, and Lorraine King in the women’s 400 hurdles (58.99). Idaho’s James Rogan also failed to advance in the men’s hammer, throwing just 199-10 for 17th, but Community Colleges of Spokane alum Jake Shanklin of Wyoming reached the final with a 210-9 spin.