CJ Allen Punches Ticket to NCAA Championships

Friday, May 26

Austin, Texas

10:00 AM

Washington State University

NCAA West Regionals

May 26, 2017 | Track & Field

NCAA West 2017 Friday Results

By: Washington State Athletic Communications

AUSTIN, Texas -- Washington State's CJ Allen became the second Cougar to qualify and advance to the NCAA Championships during the second day of the NCAA West Region Preliminary Rounds at Mike A. Myers Stadium on the University of Texas campus in Austin. Of the 48 competitors in each event, the top 12 advance to the NCAA Championships, June 7-10 at Hayward Field in Eugene.

Allen, a senior from Allyn, Wash., ran a lifetime-best time of 49.40 seconds for second place in the first of three quarterfinals heats. The top three from each heat and the next three best times advanced to the semifinals in Eugene. Allen's time was fourth-fastest of the day. This will be his second trip to the national meet after placing 12th in 2016 and earning All-America second team accolades.

"My prelim race was super easy," Allen said of Thursday's race. "I took my race out nice relaxed and strong and pulled off the burners the last 40 meters. My (Friday) quarterfinal was also very easy and strong! I stayed calm and ran my stride pattern. The heat and environment took care of the rest. I have a lot more in the tank for nationals!"

Ja'Maun Charles (sophomore, Pleasanton, Calif.) ran the men's 100m quarterfinals in a wind-aided PR time of 10.22 to finish just out of the semifinals tied at 13th.

So close but heartbreak in the women's high jump for senior Kiana Davis (Longview, Wash.). Davis cleared the first three bar heights of 5-feet 4 1/2 inches (1.64m), 5-6 1/2 (1.69m) and 5-8 1/2 (1.74m) on the first attempt but missed all three attempts at 5-10 1/2 (1.79m). She moved into a seven-woman jump-off at 5-8 3/4 (1.75m) where one woman qualified taking the 11th spot. Davis then competed in a four-woman jump-off at 5-9 3/4 (1.77m), did not clear the bar and finished in a three-way tie for 13th. Lateah Holmes (redshirt senior, Fife, Wash.) cleared the bar at 5-6 1/2 (1.69m) to tie for 32nd.

In the men's 110m hurdles, Nick Johnson (freshman, Spokane, Wash.) ran a wind-aided PR time of 14.23 seconds to finish 30th while Abu Kamara and Sam Brixey both pulled up during their heats and did not finish.

For the second consecutive day, Alissa Brooks-Johnson (redshirt junior, Doty, Wash.) ran a season-best time in the women's 400m hurdles. Brooks-Johnson's time of 59.28 was 17th in the quarterfinals, after running a time of 59.99 in the first round. She has already punched her ticket to the NCAA Championships in the heptathlon.

Devon Bortfeld (junior, Sammamish, Wash.) finished fifth in her heat and 16th overall in the women's 3000m steeplechase with a time of 10:28.16. Emily Dwyer (redshirt senior, Sammamish, Wash.) ran a time of 20:48.11 which was 30th overall.

Kyler Little (sophomore, Coeur d'Alene, Idaho) ran a time of 9:29.11 in the men's 3000m steeplechase which was 34th in the quarterfinals.

The NCAA West Preliminary Rounds concludes Saturday, May 27, in Austin, Texas. WSU athletes will compete Saturday in the men's discus, men's high jump, women' triple jump, men's 4x100m relay and men's and women's 5,000m races.