NCAA East Preliminary Recap

(West Recap coming soon...)

FULL RESULTS

 

Here are some of the highlights from the NCAA East Preliminary round at Indiana University. It is worth noting that, because the meet is technically the "NCAA Championship Preliminaries" and not a Regional Championship, there seemed to be less incentive for any of the top athletes to actually win races. Where, previously, a Regional Champ title was something sought after, there didn't seem to be that same drive for top athletes to achieve "NCAA Prelim Champion" titles. You could see many athletes letting up down the final stretch when they realized that they had a qualifier in hand.

Not sure what you all think, but the old Regional system seemed to have athletes really digging to try and be champions of their respective regions. However, this did open up the fields for more unlikely runners to take titles, giving them a nice opportunity to shine in the national spotlight...

Women's 10k

A perfect example was Kate Harrison in the 10 k. Harrison came into the meet ranked 29th in the country over 10 kilometers, and left with an East Prelim victory, taking the 25 lapper in 33:48. The times were predictably slow, but Harrison still came away with an 11 second season's best. The biggest story here was Kimberly Ruck not qualifying. Ranked #4 in the country after her 33:16 at Stanford, Ruck finished 25th overall with a 34:27.

Men's 10k

The men's 10k played out pretty much as could have been predicted by seed times. Leonard Korir, Sam Chelanga, Ciaran O'Lionaird and Michael Fout all came in ranked in the top 6 in the country. All advanced easily, with Chelanga taking the race in 29:00. With Sambu taking care of business out West, we will now have a Sambu, Korir, Chelanga showdown at Nationals. Should be fun.
 

Women's 400

Jenna Martin staged an upset in the women's 400. Martin won in 52.30, setting a new season's best in the process. Aiesha Goggins (#4 nationally) and Joanna Atkins (#3) easily punched their tickets to Des Moines after finishing 2nd and 4th, respectively.

Men's 400

Kirani James, Clayton Parros, Tony McQuay and Riker Hylton all ran sub 46's, as the 12th and final qualifier in the men's 400 was a 46.40. The biggest thing here was the performance of Parros (#20 coming in), McQuay (#19) and Hylton (#22). They finished 2,3,4 and ran right around their season's best to advance to the next round.

Women's 100

The women's 100 was predictable at the top, with 60 meter indoor champion Lakya Brookins edging out Kenyanna Wilson for the win (11.31 to 11.33). The bigger story was UCF sending three ladies to Drake, as Aurieyall Scott (#11 nationally) was joined by Sheila Paul (#29) and Dominique Booker (#42) in the top 12.

Men's 100

The men's 100 featured the top 3 sprinters in the country. They performed accordingly, as Jeff Demps, Maurice Mitchell and Ngonidzashe Makusha went 1,2,3 and easily advanced. #9 Jonathan Juin failed to advance, however, finishing 18th in 10.51.

Women's 800

Kate Grace of Yale surprised many with her 2:03.41 win in the women's 800. Grace came in ranked only 23rd in the country with a 2:05.48, but she set a huge season's best to take the East title. Her time now ranks #5 in the country heading into Nationals. 

Men's 800

Robby Andrews took the men's 800, winning by over half a second in 1:47.89. With all of the top 800 runners advancing from the East and the West, we may have one of the greatest NCAA 800 fields ever a few weeks from now at Nationals. #6 Sharif Webb was just able to advance on fastest non-automatic time, running 1:49.28 and finishing 11th. 

Women's 400 hurdles

The women's 400 hurdles were fast, as 11 of the 12 qualifiers turned in sub-58's. #4 Cassandra Tate of LSU won in 56.36, as she was able to beat #1 Ellen Wortham of Tennessee and #2 LaToya Jame of UNC.

Women's Steeple

In the women's steeple, Stephanie Garcia won in a season's best 9:54.76. She was joined by Alyssa Kulik in the sub-10 club, as the Clemson junior ran a huge season's best of 9:58 (10:05 previous best) to claim second. Ecaterina Gheorghiu was the biggest story. The North Florida was third in 10:10 after coming in with a 10:30 season's best (#57 nationally!)

Men's Steeple

Even more impressive was the performance turned in by Matt Hughes of Louisville. The senior turned in the fastest time in the country with his 8:35.74 winner. De'Sean Turner improved upon his 8:42 season's best as well, running 8:39 to finish second.

1500's

Villanova claimed two East titles in the 1500's. Sheila Reid claimed the victory in the women's 1500 with a 4:16.81, edging out Hannah Brooks. The men's champion was Matthew Gibney (you may remember him from his terrific mile anchor performance at Penn Relays). Times were slow, as Gibney won in 3:46.29.

Women's 5k

Emily Infeld of Georgetown led three women under 16:00 in her 15:55.50 winning time. Her previous best from this season was a 16:14 at Big East Champs. Emily MacLeod ran 15:57 for her first 16 of the year and Abbey D'Agostino ran 15:59.89 to just dip under 16. Performance of the meet for D'Agostino? She came in #65 nationally with her 16:23 PR. The freshman cut off nearly 24 seconds in punching her ticket to Nationals.

Men's 5k

Sam Chelanga was able to notch the double victory (previously won the 10k) in securing a narrow 5k win. Ryan Hill  of NC State and Ciaran O'Lionaird followed closely, as all 3 top finishers ran 14:06's.

4x100's

Auburn turned in their fastest 4x400 relay of the year in winning the East region title. The Tigers ran 3:31.50 out of heat 1 to beat LSU out of heat 2 (3:32.09). The men's race featured the same, as heat 1winner, Mississippi State ran 3:03.23 to edge out heat 2 winner, LSU (3:03.95).