Louisville Track and FieldÂ’s Theophille, Gilbertson Qualify for NCAA Finals

Michelle Theophille and Maggie Gilbertson each earned spots at nationals in the high jump.

 

May 25, 2012

 

LOUISVILLE, Ky. – Michelle Theophille and Maggie Gilbertson punched their tickets to the NCAA Championships in the high jump event to lead the University of Louisville track and field teams on Friday at the NCAA Division I East Preliminary Rounds at Hodges Stadium on the campus of the University of North Florida in Jacksonville, Fla.

 

Theophille entered the meet with the third-best mark in the region after tying the school record of 1.86m/6-1.25 at the BIG EAST Championships. After passing on the opening height, Theophille cleared both 1.72m/5-7.75 and 1.77m/5-9.75 on the first attempt. Gilbertson cleared the opening height and the proceeding two attempts on the first try as well, but the duo was unable to leap over the bar at 1.81m/5-11.25. Megan Schubert, also competing in the event, missed the cut-off by ultimately losing in a jump-off for the final entry to nationals.

 

On the menÂ’s side, Calvin Arsenault had a strong showing in the 110m hurdles. The freshman raced to a collegiate-best and wind-aided 14.02 in the 110m hurdles to finish sixth in his heat, 26th overall, to advance to SaturdayÂ’s quarterfinals at 7:05 p.m.

 

Louisville nearly had its first qualifier in the men’s side in Mattias Wolter. A sophomore, Wolter kept pace with the front of the pack throughout the 3,000m steeplechase event. Entering the final water barrier, Wolter, who was in third and likely would have finished with a top-12 time, lost his footing and finished seventh in his heat behind a time of 8:51.00. He was just four spots – or four seconds – shy of advancing.

 

Sam Bombaugh (hammer throw), Seon Powell (triple jump), Jordon Frazier (400m hurdles) also finished outside of the top 12 in their respective events, concluding their seasons on Friday. Frazier placed in the top 27 on Thursday in the 400m hurdles to earn a trip to the quarterfinals, where he placed 24th.

 

The Cardinals conclude competition at the NCAA Preliminary Rounds on Saturday, May 26. Action for the Cardinals commences at 2 p.m. with the womenÂ’s hammer throw.

 

For all of the latest information on Louisville cross country and track and field, log on to UofLsports.com, or, for up-to-the-minute updates, follow the team's Twitter account at www.twitter.com/louisvilletrack.

 

NCAA EAST PRELIMINARY ROUNDS (HODGES STADIUM – JACKSONVILLE, FLA.)

 

Friday, May 25

 

MenÂ’s Hammer Throw

33. Sam Bombaugh – 56.63m/185-9

 

WomenÂ’s Discus

19. Chinwe Okoro – 47.17m/154-9

27. Amashi Kendall – 45.37m/148-10

Khadija Abdullah – FOUL

 

MenÂ’s Triple Jump

23. Seon Powell – 15.06m/49-5 (wind: 1.2)

 

WomenÂ’s High Jump

t-10. Michelle Theophille – 1.77m/5-9.75

t-10. Maggie Gilbertson – 1.77m/5-9.75

t-13. Megan Schubert – 1.77m/5-9.75

 

MenÂ’s 110m Hurdles (first round)

26. Calvin Arsenault – 14.02q (wind: 3.8)

 

MenÂ’s 400m Hurdles (quarterfinals)

24. Jordon Frazier – 53.03

 

MenÂ’s 3,000m Steeplechase

16. Mattias Wolter – 8:51.00

44. Gordon Dooley – 9:21.54

 

-ig-

 

For More Information, Contact:

Ira Green, (502) 852-4857

Ira.Green@louisville.edu