USC
NCAA West Regional
USC Advances Big Group To NCAA T&F Championships
May 28, 2011 | Track & Field
May 28, 2011
Eight more Trojans and two relay teams punched their tickets to the NCAA Track and Field Championships on the final day of the NCAA Track & Field Preliminary Rounds held at Hayward Field in Eugene, Ore. today (May 28) before more than 7,000 fans. After dual three-day regional competitions (Eugene & Bloomington, Ind.) which whittled down the NCAA field from 96 to 24 in each event (12 from each region), the Trojans have qualified 19 individuals, as well as the women's 4x100m and men's 4x400m relays which will compete at the NCAA Track and Field Championships at Drake Stadium in Des Moines, Ia. from June 8-11.
"We survived and advanced a lot of people," said USC Director of Track and Field Ron Allice. "The only big glitch was the injury to Bryshon Nellum, but outside of that we came through pretty well. We got it done and have gotten it done all year when we've needed to. Now if they can survive one more round, the semifinals, they are going to score at the NCAA meet and earn All-America status."
The USC women's 4x100m relay team of freshman Loudia Laarman, junior Aareon Payne, freshman Jenna Puterbaugh and freshman Jessica Davis was the first Trojans on the track and the first to punch its ticket to the NCAA Championships by placing second in its heat with a time of 44.07. USC's time was the third-fastest qualifier and the Trojan quartet was the only team to advance which featured three freshmen legs.
Unlike all of the other races in which USC had athletes entered today which advance the top three from each heat and the next best three times, the 1500m race advances the top five from both heats and the next two best times. Junior Blake Shaw was in the first heat and he placed sixth with a time of 3:45.25. He would have to await the results of that to find out if he would advance. The winning time in the second heat was just 3:46.37 which meant Shaw had advanced to the NCAA semifinals.
Both freshman Lauren Blackburn and redshirt senior Nia Ali automatically advanced to the NCAA semifinals in the 100m hurdles by taking care of business in their heats. Blackburn placed second in the first heat with a time of 13.09 which was the third-fastest on the day. Ali won the final heat with the day's fastest time of 12.92.
Trojan seniors Oscar Spurlock and Brendan Ames also automatically advanced to the NCAA Championships in the 110m HH, but not without a little drama. Spurlock placed third in his heat with a big lean at the line which resulted in him tumbling to the track, but it worked and he was uninjured, finishing with a time of 13.69. Ames took all doubt away and utilized a little more conventional finish in winning the third heat with a time of 13.44. Ames had the third-fastest and Spurlock the ninth-fastest qualifying times.
The next event on the track for USC was the women's 200m dash. The Trojans had three runners qualified, each in a different heat. Davis was in the first heat and earned her way to the NCAA Championships in her third event (100m, 200m, 4x100m) by placing second with a wind-aided time of 22.91. Payne then took second in her heat to also automatically advance, finishing with a time of 23.04. Puterbaugh was in the final heat and finished seventh with a time of 24.20 and did not advance. Davis had the third and Payne the fifth-fastest qualifying times.
The men's triple jump competition began inauspiciously for Trojan freshman Viktor Fajoyomi and junior Tony Burnett as they both fouled in their first two attempts. With the pressure mounting, both jumpers came through with legal jumps, Fajoyomi with a wind-legal PR of 50-6.25 (15.40m) and Burnett a mark of 47-6.25 (14.48m). After the first two flights, Fajoyomi stood in fourth place with his one legal jump, while Burnett was in 16th place, the final qualifying mark. The final two heats featured the competitors with the top marks coming in, so it was bound to get pretty dicey. Unfortunately, for the Trojans, 15 athletes in the last two flights went over 50-6 and Fajoyomi dropped to 19th and Burnett to 40th.
Ali began her day by qualifying for the NCAAs in the women's high jump, clearing a high enough height before she had to leave to prepare for the hurdles. While she was away running the fastest 100m HH time, the competition was completed with her tying for first. She was one of six jumpers to pass on the opening height of 5-5, but easily cleared 5-7 (1.70m) on her first attempt. She then wasted no time in moving into a tie for first in the competition by clearing 5-8.75 (1.75m) on her first attempt. That would be all the work she would have to do in that event as only eight women would clear that height and Ali was one of four to go through clean.
The last Trojans to compete at the NCAA Preliminary Rounds were freshman Josh Mance, sophomore Reggie Wyatt, junior Duane Walker and junior Joey Hughes in the men's 4x400m relay. They won the second heat with ease to advance to the NCAA Championships, posting a time of 3:05.08. Mance passed the baton to Wyatt in good shape and Wyatt immediately took the lead and the Trojans were never challenged after that. Walker maintained the lead with a 46.94 leg and Hughes brought it home with a 45.19. USC's time was second among the qualifiers.
For the Trojans, Jessica Davis qualified in three events and Nia Ali, Aareon Payne, Joey Hughes, Josh Mance and Reggie Wyatt in two each. Among the Trojans to advance were nine freshmen and only four of the advancing competitors are in their final season of eligibility.
Trojans who advanced out of the Eugene rain and into the NCAA Championships with a chance to shine are: Nia Ali (100m HH, high jump), Brendan Ames (110m HH), Lauren Blackburn (100m HH), Aaron Brown (100m), Jessica Davis (100m, 200m 4x100m), Trey Henderson (hammer), Joey Hughes (400m, 4x400m), Loudia Laarman (4x100m), Josh Mance (400m, 4x400m), Marissa Minderler (hammer), Dalilah Muhammad (400m IH), Jenny Ozorai (hammer), Aareon Payne (200m, 4x100m), Jenna Puterbaugh (4x100m), Blake Shaw (1500m), Oscar Spurlock (110m), Cooper Thompson (javelin), Duane Walker (4x400m) and Reggie Wyatt (400m IH, 4x400m). In addition, it is likely that Bryshon Nellum and Scott DeYoung will be brought along as 4x400m relay candidates.
Players Mentioned
