FAYETTEVILLE, Ark.— Jacob Englar punched his ticket into nationals with a ninth-place finish in the men's pole vault (5.29m) and
Zach Stallings advanced to the quarterfinal round of the men's 1500m (3:45.86) as Washington State men's track and field team opened the 2022 NCAA West Preliminary competition Wednesday at a rainy John McDonnell Field.
After winning the Pac-12 title in the men's pole vault in a downpour at Hayward Field just 12 days ago, Englar approached a rainy start to the West prelims with plenty of confidence in wet conditions and cleared both 4.89m and 5.04m on his second attempts at each height. He then worked his way over 5.19m and 5.29m on both first attempts as the top seeds in the field filled in at 5.29m. Englar fell on his three attempts at a new PR at 5.39m but secured his spot at the NCAA Championships with his ninth-place finish at 5.29m. He will now look to become the seventh pole vault All-American in program history and the first since 2005 at the NCAA Championships at Hayward Field on June 8-11.
Stallings, a 2021 NCAA Championships qualifier in the men's 1500m, led the second heat over the first 700 meters before slipping into fourth for the final 400-meter push. Stallings closed the race with a 53.90 split over the final 400, finishing fourth overall (3:45.86) to earn a spot in Saturday's quarterfinal round (top-five from each first-round heat advance). The men's 1500m quarterfinal is set for Saturday at 3:15 p.m.
A trio of Cougars made their first-career appearances at the NCAA preliminaries including sophomore
Jared McAlvey who finished seventh with a 52.75 in the second heat of the men's 400m hurdles.
Ben Chappell opened the day for the Cougars' throwers, finishing with a mark of 55.15m from his first attempt in the men's hammer throw as the freshman made his NCAA Preliminary debut.
Ronald Grueso Mosqquera, also making his first appearance at the West preliminaries, improved on his finish in the men's shot put after a second-attempt foul with a 16.54m – 54"-3.25' throw to finish the day.
West Preliminary action will pick up for WSU on Thursday at noon as 10
th-seeded
Valentina Barrios Bornacelli competes in the women's javelin.
Micaela De Mello will help kick-off Thursday's track events in the women's 100m hurdles beginning at 4 p.m.
For all the latest track & field news, photos and videos, follow the teams on Facebook (facebook.com/wsucougartrack), Twitter (@wsucougartf) and Instagram (@wsucougartf).
WSU Day 1 Results:
- Hammer Throw:
Ben Chappell — 55.15m-180-11 [1
st att], 46
th overall
- Pole Vault:
Jacob Englar — 5.29m - 17"-4.25', 9
th overall
- 1500m Run:
Zach Stallings — 3:45.86 [4
th-place, heat #2 of 4], 21
st overall
- Shot Put:
Ronald Grueso Mosqquera — 16.54m-54-3.25 [3
rd att], 46
th overall
- 400m Hurdles:
Jared McAlvey — 52.75 [7
th-place, heat #2 of 6] , 40
th overall
WSU Day 2 Schedule:
- 12 p.m. | Women's Javelin Throw
- 4 p.m. | Women's Long Jump
- 4 p.m. | Women's 100m Hurdles
- 5 p.m | Women's 100m Dash
- 5:50 p.m | Women's 800m Run
- 7:10 p.m | Women's 10,000m Run
