May 28, 2017
By Megan Golden
LEXINGTON, Ky. — For the 26th straight season, the University of Notre Dame track and field team will compete for an NCAA Outdoor Track & Field Championship in Eugene, Oregon, in June. The Irish concluded the NCAA East Regional with a total of five athletes qualified for outdoor nationals.
The Irish women’s squad will travel to the outdoor championships for the 24th straight season, while the men will make their 22nd appearance over the last 23 years. Notre Dame has had two or more athletes qualify 41 times in program history.
Graduate student Danielle Aragon (4:12.50) ran faster than lightning in the first heat of the 1,500m, breaking her own school record and automatically qualifying for the NCAA Outdoor Track & Field Championships. Aragon’s record lasted roughly five minutes, however, as junior Jessica Harris (4:11.67) topped the mark in the next heat. Aragon, who was racing at her third career regional meet, and Harris will make their first career appearances at the outdoor championships.
Senior Jacob Dumford (3:48.40) barely missed qualifying for the semifinals in the 1,500m, coming just two spots shy of a ticket to Eugene.
In the men’s high jump, which was interrupted for roughly four hours due to rain, sophomore Matthew Birzer entered at the 2.05m mark and ultimately cleared 2.15m (7-.5) to qualify for the outdoor championship. Birzer will make his first career trip to Eugene after falling shy last spring. Junior Hunter Holton entered the high jump at the 2.00m (6-6.75) mark, clearing the bar on his first attempt but coming short of a qualifying mark.
Senior Anthony Shivers, who was competing in his third career NCAA East Regional meet, threw a season-best 55.13m (180-10) in the discus to open the day. The mark was second-best in his flight.
Senior Indi Jackson threw 15.38m (50-5.5) in the shot put, while freshman Abbey Kapitan recorded a 13.86m (45-5.75) mark.
Earlier this week, sophomore Anna Rohrer qualified for the 10,000m finals, and senior Nate Richartz qualified for the pole vault finals. Check out the highlights from Thursday and Friday.
Up Next
Notre Dame will send five athletes to Eugene, Oregon, for the NCAA Outdoor Track & Field Championships from June 7-10.
For a closer, behind-the-scenes look at the Irish track and field program, follow @NDXCTF on Twitter.
–ND–
Megan Golden, athletics communications assistant director at the University of Notre Dame, has been part of the Fighting Irish athletics communications team since August of 2016. In her role, she coordinates all media efforts for the Notre Dame women’s lacrosse and cross country/track and field programs. A native of Cleveland, Ohio, Golden is a 2014 graduate of Saint Mary’s College and former Irish women’s basketball manager. Prior to arriving at Notre Dame, she worked in public relations with the Cleveland Indians and Chicago White Sox.