EUGENE, Ore. - Freshmen Valentina Barrios Bornacelli (javelin) and
Micaela De Mello (100m hurdles) each capped solid rookie outdoor seasons on Thursday as Washington State women's track and field team opened the 2022 NCAA Outdoor Championships on day two of four from Hayward Field.
Barrios Bornacelli finished eighth overall in the women's javelin with a PR and freshman record mark (54.03m/ 177'-3") to qualify for finals in her first-career nationals appearance. She is now the eighth all-time women's javelin All-American and the first Cougar woman to finish top-eight in the nation since Courtney Kirkwood in 2011.
Barrios Bornacelli grabbed her first PR and freshman record of the day with a mark of 172'-4" on her second throw. The freshman from Columbia then capped her night by improving on her record-setting throw with a 54.03m/ 177'-3" heave on her third attempt to finish second in the first of two javelin flights. Her 54.03m stood as the eighth-best mark following both flights, qualifying her for the javelin finals in her first-career NCAA's appearance.
De Mello, the Pac-12 runner-up in the women's 100m hurdles, finished sixth in the first of three semifinal heats on Thursday and clocked a time of 13.15. Her 17th overall finish was the second-best amongst freshmen in the field.
Mitch Jacobson will lead off day three for the Cougars as the men's high jump is slated to begin Friday at 5:30 p.m., while Colton Johnsen will take a shot at back-to-back All-American finishes in the 3000m steeplechase final beginning at 6:24 p.m.
WSU Day Two Results:
- Women's Javelin Final | Valentina Barrios-Bornacelli, 54.03m/ 177'ft-3"in, 2nd flight 1 of 2
WSU Day Three Schedule:
- Men's High Jump Final – 5:30 p.m. | Mitch Jacobson, Flight 1 of 2 – 2.18m (16th)
- Men's 3000m Steeplechase Final – 6:24 p.m. | Colton Johnsen, 8:31.64 (7th)
