Colorado University Athletics
Morris Earns Second NCAA Bid At West Prelims
AUSTIN, Texas GÇô Joe Morris will represent the University of Colorado in both the 100 and 200-meter dashes at the NCAA Championships after capturing an automatic qualifying spot in the 200 on Saturday at the NCAA West Preliminary Championships.
Morris, who advanced to nationals in the 100 on Friday night, finished the 200 quarterfinals with a time of 21.00 seconds to pick up the third and final automatic qualifying spot in the third heat. Overall his time placed him ninth on the night. Morris will be the first Buff to compete in both the 100 and 200 events at nationals since Devlon Dunn in 1988.
GÇ£We are very proud of Joe for getting through in both of his events,GÇ¥ coach Mark Wetmore said. GÇ£He came to this meet and did the work he needed to do to move on to nationals and we couldnGÇÖt have asked for more from him.GÇ¥
Morris got out of the blocks well and was in the top couple of runners through the first turn. He continued to look strong and hung on as the field crossed the finish. He beat NebraskaGÇÖs Dexter McKenzie (21.03) and WashingtonGÇÖs James Alaka (21.08) and finished just behind TA&MGÇÖs Michael Bryan (21.91). Another Aggie, Ammer Webb, won the heat in 20.39.
GÇ£Coming into the meet we knew that he was capable of doing the things that he did,GÇ¥ assistant coach Drew Morano said. GÇ£SomethingGÇÖs technically arenGÇÖt quite as sound as they could be right now, but it was still good to see him get by and get on to the next meet. We still have a couple weeks of practice to get some good work in and see where we can get to. He has worked hard all season and willed himself to get to the position he is in. I think we can expect good things from him at the NCAAs.GÇ¥
Brian Owens finished his CU career with a 25th-place finish in the javelin throw, recording a season-best mark of 208-9 with his third toss of the afternoon. His first throw was 195-9 and his second came in at 202-6. Owens came into the meet ranked 48th and was the last participant to get through to the west prelims.
In the 1,500, Jake Hurysz finished ninth in the second heat in 3:47.41. His time was faster than everyone in the first heat as OklahomaGÇÖs Riley Masters won that section in 3:48.78, but unfortunately only the top five from each heat, plus the next two best times, advanced to nationals, leaving Hurysz out.
Carrie Verdon did not advance to nationals in the 5,000, but also had a good race, finishing eighth in the second heat (16:21.60) and 13th overall, just missing a trip to nationals. She steadily worked her way up from the back of the back at the beginning of the race and was up to 14th with about 2,000-meters remaining. Verdon kept going and continued to move up a few more positions before claiming her eighth-place finish.
Richard Medina and Ammar Moussa were 12th and 17th, respectively, in the first heat of the menGÇÖs 5,000. Medina crossed the finish in 14:28.26 and Moussa came in at 14:45.12. Overall Medina placed 23rd and Moussa was 35th. ArizonaGÇÖs Lawi Lalang won the 5k in 13:41.88.
The womenGÇÖs 4x400 recorded the seventh fastest time in CU history, crossing the finish in 3:38.39; but it wasnGÇÖt enough to move on to nationals as they were sixth in the second heat. The relay consisted of Lindsy Mattson, Brianne Beemer, Bridget Sweeney and Eileen Gehring. The menGÇÖs relay (Tyler Baker, Morris, Shaw Gifford and Blake Berens) finished 24th in 3:12.82.
The NCAA Outdoor Track & Field Championships will be June 5-8 in Eugene, Ore. In total CU will have Emma Coburn and Aric Van Halen in the steeplechase, Morris in the 100 and 200, Emily Hunsucker in the hammer throw and Mark Jones in the high jump at nationals.
2013 NCAA WEST PRELIMINARY CHAMPIONSHIPS
Mike A Myers Stadium (University of Texas)
(Austin, Texas)
Track Events
MenGÇÖs 1,500 (quarterfinals): (1. Patrick Casey, Oklahoma, 3:44.48) 14. Jake Hurysz, 3:47.41
MenGÇÖs 200 (quarterfinals): (1. Charles Silmon, TCU, 20.23) 9. Joe Morris, 21.00
WomenGÇÖs 5,000 (semis): (1. Megan Goethals, Washington, 15:55.91) 13. Carrie Verdon, 16:21.60
MenGÇÖs 5,000 (semis): (1. Lawi Lalang, Arizona, 13:41.87) 23. Richard Medina, 14:28.26; 35. Ammar Moussa, 14:45.12
WomenGÇÖs 4x400 Relay (quarterfinals): (1. Arkansas, 3:28.92) 18. Mattson/Beemer/Sweeney/Gehring, 3:38.39
MenGÇÖs 4x400 Relay (quarterfinals): (1. Texas A&M, 3:02.55) 24. Baker/Morris/Gifford/Berens, 3:12.82
Field Events
MenGÇÖs Javelin (first round): (1. Sam Humphreys, Texas A&M, 268-08) 25. Brian Owens, 208-9