FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — Senior
Maribel Caicedo shattered her own school record in the 100m Hurdles, notching the nation's fastest time this season at 12.49 seconds, while junior
Nana Gyedu broke her own school record in the shot put, to highlight Washington State's second day at the 2024 NCAA West First Round Thursday at John McDonnell Field.
Caicedo, who two weeks ago lowered the school record to 12.61 seconds, setting an Ecuador and South American record in the process, made it appear effortless as she ran away form the field from lane 8 en route to the victory. Her winning time of 12.49 seconds was not only a school record, but also a facility record, the fastest collegiate time the season and the sixth-fastest time in the world this year, in additional to lowering her Ecuador and South American records.
Caicedo was not the only Cougar to shine in the 100m Hurdles, as redshirt-junior
Micaela De Mello lowered her personal-best time to 12.85 seconds as she blazed her way to winning the first heat. De Mello, whose previous best mark was 12.98 set two years ago at this same facility, posted the second-fastest time in WSU history and the fifth-best qualifying time as both she and Caicedo advance to Saturday's quarterfinal round.
Gyedu, from London, England, entered her first NCAA Championships with the 16th-best qualifying mark in the West Region when she set the WSU record earlier this month at the Pac-12 Championships with a throw of 16.81m / 55' 2". Following her first attempt of 15.81m, Gyedu flew past her previous mark with a launch of 17.23m / 56' 6.5", extending her school record by more than a foot.
Senior
Skyler Walton ran a wind-aided time of 11.25 seconds in the 100m dash, finishing sixth in her heat and 26th overall, narrowly missing out on advancing to Saturday's quarterfinals by .03 seconds. Also just missing out of advancing was grad student
Jasneet Nijjar, whose time in the 400m of 52.94 seconds was .13 seconds shy of advancing. Nijjar finished fourth in the first heat and 26th overall.
WSU had two entrants in the 800m race, with junior
Maya McCabe finishing in a personal-best time of 2:06.29, 16th overall and fifth in the sixth heat. advancing to Saturday's quarterfinal round. McCabe's teammate, senior
Neema Kimtai, crossed the line in 2:08.66, 33rd overall.
In Thursday's field events, freshman
Tatum Moku cleared 4.20m / 13' 9.25" in the pole vault to finish 10th in the second flight and 17th overall. The mark was a season-best for Moku, eclipsing her previous high of 4.18m. Freshman teammate
Eva Lowder did not clear the opening height in the event and did not receive a mark. In the javelin, junior
Laura Lindquist finished 15th in the second flight and 41st overall after a throw of 44.51m / 146' 0'.
Up Next:
The men return to the track on day three from Fayetteville Friday. Competing for the Cougars Friday will be
A.J. McGloflin in the high jump (9:30 a.m. PT), 3000m Steeplechaser
Kelvin Limo (12:40 p.m. PT),
John Paredes in the 110m Hurdles (1:15 p.m.),
Jared McAlvey in the 400m Hurdles (2:25 p.m. PT),
Brian Barsaiya, after a tremendous race in the 10000m Wednesday, returns for the 5000m event (3:10 p.m. PT) and the 4x400 Relay team takes the track for the first time (63:45 p.m. PT).
For all the latest WSU Track and Field news, photos, and videos, like the team on Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/wsucougartrack) or follow on Twitter (@ WSUCougarXCTF) and Instagram (@WSUCougarXCTF).
NCAA West First Round – Day 2 WSU Results
Javelin
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Laura Lindquist: 44.51m / 146' 0", 37th overall (15th in flight 2)
Pole Vault
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Tatum Moku: 4.20m / 13' 9.25", 17th overall (10th in flight 2)
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Eva Lowder: NH
Shot Put
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Nana Gyedu: 17.23m / 56' 6.5", 8th overall (1st in Flight 3)
100m Hurdles
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Micaela De Mello: 12.85Q, 5th overall (1st in heat 1) [Qualifies for Saturday's QF at 4:15 p.m. PT]
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Maribel Caicedo: 12.49Q, 1st overall (1st in heat 5) [Qualifies for Saturday's QF at 4:15 p.m. PT]
100m
- Skylar Walton: 11.25 wind aided, 26th overall (6th in heat 3)
400
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Jasneet Nijjar: 52.94, 26th overall (4th in heat 1)
800m
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Maya McCabe: 2:06.29q, 16th overall, (5th in heat 6) [Qualifies for Saturday's QF at 5:05 p.m. PT]
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Neema Kimtai: 2:08.66, 33rd overall, (8th in heat 6)
