Colorado University Athletics
Colorado
NCAA Regional Championships
Buffs Punch Tickets To Nationals
May 24, 2013 | Track and Field
AUSTIN, Texas – University of Colorado senior-to-be Emily Hunsucker was the first Buff to advance to the 2013 NCAA Outdoor Track & Field Championships after placing seventh overall in the hammer throw at the NCAA West Preliminary Championships on Thursday.
“Emily was the highlight of the day and it couldn't have happened to a more deserving person,” head coach Mark Wetmore said. “She works quietly and happily alone so much of the time. I'm very happy to see that happen to her.”
Not only did she advance to nationals, but she broke her own CU record of 203-9 by more than four feet when she launched a huge personal best of 207-10 on her fifth throw of the afternoon.
“It is still all sinking in,” Hunsucker said. “This was a really awesome performance. I didn't let the heat get to me, which I was really nervous about. I took the energy from the stadium and crowd and it was just an awesome PR.”
Hunsucker was ranked 15th in the west region (203-9) heading into the meet and needed to be in the top 12 in order to advance to nationals June 5-8 in Eugene, Ore. She started the day off throwing 197-11 on her first attempt and then went above 200 on her next toss, tying her then-school record at 203-9. Her third throw of the flight was 203-0. On her first toss in the finals, she cranked out a mark of 207-9 to move from eighth to seventh place overall. Hunsucker improved again on her next toss (207-10) before finishing the series with a throw of 201-9.
“Emily's performance today was special,” assistant coach Casey Malone said. “It's by far one of the best highlights I've had as a coach. To see an athlete have that kind of performance at such a high pressure meet, and have such a huge PR is exceptional. She had a great start and kept her focus going into finals and then had a huge jump. It's a sign of an elite athlete when they can do that and I think it really shows there is even more there as we head to nationals.”
Hunsucker is the first female thrower since Hannah Warfield-Ruffatto (javelin) in 2007 to advance to nationals. She is also the first hammer thrower to go to the meet since Janet Visosky in 1998. Visosky coincidentally held CU's former record of 196-10.
“That is a dream come true for me,” Hunsucker said. “I've been wanting this for a really long time.”
Hunsucker wasn't the only Buff to get through to nationals as just a few hours later Mark Jones qualified in the high jump; although he had to do some work to get in after getting into a three-way tie for 11th at 6-11.50. Since 12 athletes advance, there was a jump-off for the final two spots and Jones was able to hold off Wisconsin's Collin Taylor to advance. Arkansas' Dwayne Golbek earned the other spot.
“I had a phenomenal meet two weeks ago at Pac-12s, and thanks to Coach Malone and the rest of the staff, that efficiency in my event carried over to this meet,” Jones said. “High jump is always a battle of perfection and I wasn't always perfect on my jumps today but everything is a learning experience and I should be ready for NCAAs.”
Jones is the first CU high jumper to compete at NCAAs since Jason Dudley in 1990.
“This is an exceptionally exciting moment in Mark's career,” assistant coach Lindsey Malone said. “I am overjoyed that he will have the opportunity to represent CU at the NCAA Championships during his sophomore year. He is a tremendous individual and has earned every inch of this honor.”
Wetmore added, “He is getting a little more consistent and calmer in the pressure in the long hot days. He was the first to clear the jump off distance and I knew he was in.”
On the track, Jake Hurysz narrowly advanced to the quarterfinals of the 1,500-meters after finishing fifth in his heat with a time of 3:49.09. Hurysz lead the pack for approximately the first 1,000-meters before falling back to third with 200 meters remaining. The field tightened up as it entered the homestretch with Hurysz still in third; but it was a very close finish as five runners crossed the line within .10 seconds of each other.
Hurysz was beaten to the line by Texas' Kyle Merber (3:49.04) and Stanford's Michael Atchoo (3:49.06), but was able to hold off Tulsa's Adam Palamar (3:49.13) and North Dakota State's Travis Fitzke (3:49.14). Both Palamar and Fitzke were the first two out of advancing. The 1,500 quarterfinals are on Saturday at 6:45 p.m. CT.
“Jake barely made it in,” Wetmore noted. “He got the very last spot and made a couple of tactical errors, but saved it. He lives to race on Sunday.”
Joe Morris advanced to the quarterfinals of the 100 after finishing fifth in his heat in 10.30. He had to advance on time after finishing out of the top three in his heat (which were automatic qualifying spots) and was able to hang on for the fifth-place finish in the heat to earn one of the six qualifying positions by time. The quarterfinals are scheduled on Friday at 6:45 p.m. CT.
“Joe ran pretty well,” Wetmore said. “He was in a bad lane; no one likes to run in lane eight in a short sprint, so I think he will do better in the next round.”
The NCAA West Preliminary Championships continue through Saturday. Friday's events will start at 6 p.m. for the Buffs with Kelsey English in the women's high jump.
2013 NCAA WEST PRELIMINARY CHAMPIONSHIPS
Mike A Myers Stadium (University of Texas)
(Austin, Texas)
Track Events
Women's 400-Hurdles (first round): (1. Georganne Moline, Arizona, 56.30) 26. Brianne Beemer, 59.77
Men's 1,500 (first round): (1. Patrick Casey, Oklahoma, 3:43.84) 20. Jake Hurysz, 3:49.09Q; 33. Connor Winter, 3:52.86
Men's 100 (first round): (1. Charles Silmon, 10.03) 20. Joe Morris, 10.30
Women's 400 (first round): (1. Regina George, Arkansas, 51.27) 33. Lindsy Mattson, 54.57; 35. Eileen Gehring, 54.68
Men's 10,000 (semifinals): (1. Lawi Lalang, Arizona, 29:54.66) 30. Pierce Murphy, 31:21.69
Field Events
Women's Hammer Throw (first round): (1. Chelsea Cassulo, ASU, 229-11) 7. Emily Hunsucker, 207-10
Men's High Jump (first round): (1. Anthony May, Arkansas, 7-1) t11. Mark Jones, 6-11.50
Women's Long Jump (first round): (1. Andrea Guebelle, Kansas, 21-4.75) 33. Abrianna Torres, 19-2
