AUSTIN, Texas – The Sun Devil track and field team left Mike A. Myers Stadium on the University of Texas with four student-athletes qualifying in six events for the NCAA Championships on June 7-10 in Eugene, Ore.
At least one Sun Devil qualified on each day, with two of them cementing trips to the NCAA Outdoor Championships for the first time.
Seniors Kyle Long, Keyasia Tibbs and Garrett Starkey did so in their final year of collegiate competition, while redshirt junior Maggie Ewen stamped her ticket in all three of her throwing events.
Read more on each day of competition below:
DAY 3 – Saturday, May 27
After failing to qualify for the NCAA Championships in the men's hammer throw, senior Kyle Long came back with a vengeance in the men's discus throw on the final day.
His final throw of 56.47m (185-3.00) earned him eighth place and his first-ever trip to the NCAA Outdoor Championships during his four-year Sun Devil career.
The clutch performance of the weekend went to senior triple jumper Keyasia Tibbs. The Pac-12 Scholar Athlete of the Year stepped on to the runway for her final jump in 15th place and needing a leap of at least 13.08 meters to qualify for the national meet. She handled the moment like a professional, leaping to 13.19m (43-3.25) and into 10th place to qualify for her second-straight NCAA Outdoor Championships.
The Pac-12 Field Athlete of the Year and Women's Athlete of the Meet continued her three-event success on Saturday, as she qualified for her third and final event in the women's shot put with a second-place finish. On her second throw, Ewen broke her personal record with a mark of 17.72m (58-1.75).
Also in the field events, redshirt sophomore Joey Bryant came as close as you can get to qualifying for Eugene. Bryant cleared 2.15m (7-0.50) like the five men in front of him, but it took him two more attempts than four in front of him. This pushed him back into 13th place heading into the final bar at 2.18m. Bryant nearly cleared his first attempt, and would not clear the bar needed to stay alive.
In the women's 5,000-meter, senior Chelsey Albertson clocked a time of 16:56.74 for 20th place.
DAY 2 – Friday, May 26
Friday begun on a high note for the Sun Devils in the men's pole vault and women's discus throw, as graduate senior Garrett Starkey and redshirt junior Maggie Ewen qualified for Eugene in their respective events.
Starkey and teammate Matt Eckles continued to build momentum throughout the afternoon, with Starkey clearing the needed height at 5.35m (17-6.50) to finish sixth in the field of 48. Eckles placed 13th at 5.15m (16-10.75), which was good for a new outdoor personal best.
DAY 1 – Thursday, May 25
Bowerman Award watch list candidate Maggie Ewen won the women's hammer throw as again the only thrower to eclipse 70 meters with a mark of 70.81m (232-3.00). Her third and final throw of the event appeared to approach the NCAA collegiate record of 72.94m (239-3.00), but a foot foul would negate it.
In the men's hammer throw, senior Kyle Long came up just short of earning the 12th-qualifying spot by just a foot and seven inches. He finished 14th, but will have another opportunity to qualify for the NCAA Championships in the discus on Saturday.
Junior sprinter Drelan Bramwell did not qualify for the 400-meter final, as he finished fourth in his heat but 32 out of the 48 sprinters overall. The top three in each heat advanced along with the next six best times.
Four Sun Devils competed in their first even regional meet, including Kristiana Warth, Kaylee Antill, Melanie Johnson and Alexis Nichols.
Nichols, a freshman, earned the final and 48th qualifying bid to the regional in the women's 1500-meter run and made the most of it by placing 32nd with a time of 4:33.93.
In the pole vault, Warth also placed 32nd with a clearance of 3.95m (12-11.50) despite high winds in the early afternoon.
Back in the hammer throw, Antill put her first throw in play to place 28th out of the 48 competitors.
Also in the throws, redshirt sophomore Melanie Johnson hurled the javelin 40.09m (131-6.00) for 45th.
Day two will start with Ewen in her second-best event – the discus throw – and fellow Pac-12 champion Matt Eckles with partner in crime Garrett Starkey in the pole vault at 12 p.m. CT/10 a.m. PT.
Senior Tom Anderson goes to work in the shot put at 2:30 p.m. PT, as does junior Shaunie Morrison in the 100-meter hurdles preliminary.
The day ends with senior C.J. Albertson running in the men's 3,000-meter steeplechase at 7 p.m. PT.
NCAA West Regional
Mike A. Myers Stadium
May 25-27, 2017
Saturday Field Events
Men's Discus Throw
8. Kyle Long – 56.47m (185-3.00)q
Men's High Jump
13. Joey Bryant – 2.15m (7-0.50)
35. Elijah Hughes – 2.05m (6-8.75)
Women's Triple Jump
10. Keyasia Tibbs – 13.19m (43-3.25)q
Women's Shot Put
2. Maggie Ewen – 17.72m (58-1.75)q
Saturday Track Events
Women's 100m Hurdles
23. Shaunie Morrison – 13.68
Women's 5,000m Run
20. Chelsey Albertson – 16:56.74
Men's 4x400 Relay
15. Arizona State (Polk, Wright, Lucas, Bramwell) – 3:07.49
Friday Field Events
Men's Pole Vault
6. Garrett Starkey – 5.35m (17-6.50)q
23. Matt Eckles – 5.15m (16-10.75)
Women's Discus Throw
4. Maggie Ewen – 58.48m (191-10.00)q
Men's Shot Put
32. Tom Anderson – 16.74m (54-11.25)
Friday Track Events
Women's 100m Hurdles
10. Shaunie Morrison – 13.18Q
Men's 3k Steeplechase
43. CJ Albertson – 9:44.61
Thursday Field Events
Women's Hammer Throw
1.Maggie Ewen – 70.81m (232-3.00)q
28. Kaylee Antill – 57.29m (187-11.00)
Men's Hammer Throw
14. Kyle Long – 64.50m (211-7.00)
Women's Pole Vault
32. Kristiana Warth – 3.95m (12-11.50)
Women's Javelin Throw
45. Melanie Johnson – 40.09m (131-6.00)
Thursday Track Events
Women's 1500m Run
32. Alexis Nichols – 4:33.93
Men's 400m Dash
32. Drelan Bramwell – 47.32
At least one Sun Devil qualified on each day, with two of them cementing trips to the NCAA Outdoor Championships for the first time.
Seniors Kyle Long, Keyasia Tibbs and Garrett Starkey did so in their final year of collegiate competition, while redshirt junior Maggie Ewen stamped her ticket in all three of her throwing events.
Read more on each day of competition below:
DAY 3 – Saturday, May 27
After failing to qualify for the NCAA Championships in the men's hammer throw, senior Kyle Long came back with a vengeance in the men's discus throw on the final day.
Goin' to the 'ship! #ForksUp #NCAATFWest pic.twitter.com/YJPONaCz75
— SunDevilTFXC (@SunDevilTFXC) May 27, 2017
His final throw of 56.47m (185-3.00) earned him eighth place and his first-ever trip to the NCAA Outdoor Championships during his four-year Sun Devil career.
The clutch performance of the weekend went to senior triple jumper Keyasia Tibbs. The Pac-12 Scholar Athlete of the Year stepped on to the runway for her final jump in 15th place and needing a leap of at least 13.08 meters to qualify for the national meet. She handled the moment like a professional, leaping to 13.19m (43-3.25) and into 10th place to qualify for her second-straight NCAA Outdoor Championships.
The Pac-12 Field Athlete of the Year and Women's Athlete of the Meet continued her three-event success on Saturday, as she qualified for her third and final event in the women's shot put with a second-place finish. On her second throw, Ewen broke her personal record with a mark of 17.72m (58-1.75).
Maggie up into second at 17.72m on her second throw! #NCAATFWest pic.twitter.com/376hiXzajh
— SunDevilTFXC (@SunDevilTFXC) May 28, 2017
Also in the field events, redshirt sophomore Joey Bryant came as close as you can get to qualifying for Eugene. Bryant cleared 2.15m (7-0.50) like the five men in front of him, but it took him two more attempts than four in front of him. This pushed him back into 13th place heading into the final bar at 2.18m. Bryant nearly cleared his first attempt, and would not clear the bar needed to stay alive.
In the women's 5,000-meter, senior Chelsey Albertson clocked a time of 16:56.74 for 20th place.
DAY 2 – Friday, May 26
Friday begun on a high note for the Sun Devils in the men's pole vault and women's discus throw, as graduate senior Garrett Starkey and redshirt junior Maggie Ewen qualified for Eugene in their respective events.
Starkey and teammate Matt Eckles continued to build momentum throughout the afternoon, with Starkey clearing the needed height at 5.35m (17-6.50) to finish sixth in the field of 48. Eckles placed 13th at 5.15m (16-10.75), which was good for a new outdoor personal best.
Minutes later in the discus throw, Ewen punched her ticket in her second event, finishing fourth with a throw of 58.48m (191-10.00) to place fourth overall. She only had one qualifying throw, as she fouled on her first attempt and passed her third.??@starkeypv clears 5.25m to advance! #ForksUp #NCAATFWest pic.twitter.com/UJsjV1HeJm
— SunDevilTFXC (@SunDevilTFXC) May 26, 2017
That afternoon, junior hurdler Shaunie Morrison earned a trip to the final of the women's 100-meter hurdles, as she finished third in her heat and 10th overall by time. She clocked a new personal best in the race with a time of 13.18, which moved her into sixth on the ASU all-time record list. She would join the 24 runners in the quarterfinal on Saturday.After a foul on her first attempt, Maggie hits 58.48m to move into 3rd! #NCAATFWest pic.twitter.com/5nxMNXYhcP
— SunDevilTFXC (@SunDevilTFXC) May 26, 2017
NEW PR! @shauniemorrison clocks 13.18 for 3rd in her heat & earns automatic bid to final tomorrow! #NCAATFWest
— SunDevilTFXC (@SunDevilTFXC) May 26, 2017
(In gold shadowed outside) pic.twitter.com/hbyqQ9qkQi
DAY 1 – Thursday, May 25
Bowerman Award watch list candidate Maggie Ewen won the women's hammer throw as again the only thrower to eclipse 70 meters with a mark of 70.81m (232-3.00). Her third and final throw of the event appeared to approach the NCAA collegiate record of 72.94m (239-3.00), but a foot foul would negate it.
In the men's hammer throw, senior Kyle Long came up just short of earning the 12th-qualifying spot by just a foot and seven inches. He finished 14th, but will have another opportunity to qualify for the NCAA Championships in the discus on Saturday.
Junior sprinter Drelan Bramwell did not qualify for the 400-meter final, as he finished fourth in his heat but 32 out of the 48 sprinters overall. The top three in each heat advanced along with the next six best times.
Four Sun Devils competed in their first even regional meet, including Kristiana Warth, Kaylee Antill, Melanie Johnson and Alexis Nichols.
Nichols, a freshman, earned the final and 48th qualifying bid to the regional in the women's 1500-meter run and made the most of it by placing 32nd with a time of 4:33.93.
In the pole vault, Warth also placed 32nd with a clearance of 3.95m (12-11.50) despite high winds in the early afternoon.
Back in the hammer throw, Antill put her first throw in play to place 28th out of the 48 competitors.
Also in the throws, redshirt sophomore Melanie Johnson hurled the javelin 40.09m (131-6.00) for 45th.
Day two will start with Ewen in her second-best event – the discus throw – and fellow Pac-12 champion Matt Eckles with partner in crime Garrett Starkey in the pole vault at 12 p.m. CT/10 a.m. PT.
Senior Tom Anderson goes to work in the shot put at 2:30 p.m. PT, as does junior Shaunie Morrison in the 100-meter hurdles preliminary.
The day ends with senior C.J. Albertson running in the men's 3,000-meter steeplechase at 7 p.m. PT.
NCAA West Regional
Mike A. Myers Stadium
May 25-27, 2017
Saturday Field Events
Men's Discus Throw
8. Kyle Long – 56.47m (185-3.00)q
Men's High Jump
13. Joey Bryant – 2.15m (7-0.50)
35. Elijah Hughes – 2.05m (6-8.75)
Women's Triple Jump
10. Keyasia Tibbs – 13.19m (43-3.25)q
Women's Shot Put
2. Maggie Ewen – 17.72m (58-1.75)q
Saturday Track Events
Women's 100m Hurdles
23. Shaunie Morrison – 13.68
Women's 5,000m Run
20. Chelsey Albertson – 16:56.74
Men's 4x400 Relay
15. Arizona State (Polk, Wright, Lucas, Bramwell) – 3:07.49
Friday Field Events
Men's Pole Vault
6. Garrett Starkey – 5.35m (17-6.50)q
23. Matt Eckles – 5.15m (16-10.75)
Women's Discus Throw
4. Maggie Ewen – 58.48m (191-10.00)q
Men's Shot Put
32. Tom Anderson – 16.74m (54-11.25)
Friday Track Events
Women's 100m Hurdles
10. Shaunie Morrison – 13.18Q
Men's 3k Steeplechase
43. CJ Albertson – 9:44.61
Thursday Field Events
Women's Hammer Throw
1.Maggie Ewen – 70.81m (232-3.00)q
28. Kaylee Antill – 57.29m (187-11.00)
Men's Hammer Throw
14. Kyle Long – 64.50m (211-7.00)
Women's Pole Vault
32. Kristiana Warth – 3.95m (12-11.50)
Women's Javelin Throw
45. Melanie Johnson – 40.09m (131-6.00)
Thursday Track Events
Women's 1500m Run
32. Alexis Nichols – 4:33.93
Men's 400m Dash
32. Drelan Bramwell – 47.32