May 24, 2012
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Notre Dame track and field distance runners Martin Grady and Jessica Rydberg are heading to the NCAA Outdoor Championships in the 10,000m after they finished in the top 12 in their respective races on Thursday night at the NCAA East Preliminary Round at Hodges Stadium on the campus of the University of North Florida.
In addition to Grady and Rydberg, eight student-athletes advanced to the quarterfinals in their respective events. These include Kaila Barber (400m Hurdles), Megan Yanik (400m Hurdles), Jeremy Rae (1,500m), Johnathan Shawel (1,500m), Rebecca Tracy (1,500m), Alexa Aragon (1,500m), Josh Atkinson (100m) and Patrick Feeney (400m).
Friday’s action gets underway at 10 a.m. with the men’s hammer throw.
COMPLETE RESULTS
MEN’S 10,000M RUN
Martin Grady advanced to the NCAA Outdoor Championships after finishing 12th in the men’s 10,000m run in 30:37.85. Grady beat out the No. 13 finisher for the final spot by just under three seconds. He becomes the first Irish men’s 10,000m runner to advance to nationals since Dan Jackson in 2010.
WOMEN’S 10,000M RUN
Jessica Rydberg qualified for her second NCAA Outdoor Championships in the 10,000m after placing 11th in the event with a time of 34:36.86. Rydberg is looking to earn her second All-America scroll in the event, as she finished 10th in 2010 as a freshman.
Gabby Gonzales (35:07.02) finished 17th out of 43 runners, while Rachel Velarde (35:57.59) took 26th.
WOMEN’S 400M HURDLES
A pair of Irish hurdlers advanced to the quarterfinals of the women’s 400m hurdles, as Kaila Barber (57.695) qualified third and Megan Yanik (58.509) qualified 11th. Barber won heat five, while Yanik finished third in heat three. The top three from all six heats and the next nine best times advanced to Friday’s quarterfinals. To advance to the NCAA Outdoor Championships, Barber and Yanik would need to be in the top three of their heat or have one of the next three best times.
MEN’S 1,500M RUN
Two Notre Dame men’s 1,500m runners qualified for Saturday’s quarterfinals, as Jeremy Rae (3:47.85) finished 13th and Johnathan Shawel (4:05.61) crossed the line in 38th. Rae won heat three, while Shawel took third in heat one. The top five from each of the four heats qualified automatically and then the next four times were taken. To advance to the NCAA Outdoor Championships, Rae and Shawel will have to be in the top five in a heat or have one of the next two best times.
WOMEN’S 1,500M RUN
Rebecca Tracy (4:22.49) and Alexa Aragon (4:30.65) qualified eighth and 35th, respectively, in the women’s 1,500m run. They each advanced to Saturday’s quarterfinals as Tracy finished third in heat one and Aragon took fifth in heat two. The top five from each of the four heats qualified automatically and then the next four times were taken. To advance to the NCAA Outdoor Championships, Tracy and Aragon will have to be in the top five in a heat or have one of the next two best times.
Kelly Curran (4:33.11) finished 10th in heat four and 39th out of 48 overall.
MEN’S 100M DASH
Josh Atkinson (10.51) qualified 18th for Friday’s quarterfinals in the 100m dash after finishing fifth in heat five. The top three from all six heats and the next nine best times advanced to Friday’s quarterfinals. To advance to the NCAA Outdoor Championships, Atkinson would need to be in the top three of his heat or have one of the next three best times.
Brother George Atkinson III (10.62) took fourth in heat two and 31st out of 46 overall.
MEN’S 400M DASH
Patrick Feeney (46.55) qualified ninth for Friday’s quarterfinals in the men’s 400m dash after taking second in heat four. The top three from all six heats and the next nine best times advanced to Friday’s quarterfinals. To advance to the NCAA Outdoor Championships, Feeney would need to be in the top three of his heat or have one of the next three best times.
Freshman Chris Giesting (47.10) placed sixth in heat three and 28th out of 47 overall.
WOMEN’S 100M DASH
Aijah Urssery (11.94) finished fifth in heat two and 38th out of 48 overall.
MEN’S DISCUS
Anthony Thomas placed 30th out of 48 with a toss of 50.96m (167-2 ft).
WOMEN’S SHOT PUT
Emily Morris finished 40th out of 48 with a throw of 13.81m (45-3.75 ft).
–ND–