FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – Jaida Ross broke her own collegiate record in the shot put and is now the seventh woman beyond 20 meters in American history with Thursday’s performance at the West Preliminary at John McDonnell Field in Fayetteville, Ark. In qualifying efforts, she and Shelby Moran both advanced to the NCAA Championships.
Day two of the meet also saw the UO women send eight into Saturday’s quarterfinal heats. Additionally, UO sophomore Emily Fitzsimmons became the No. 4 performer in program history in the pole vault.
Ross was the top-overall qualifier with a historic measure of 20.01m/65-7.75 on her second spin around the ring. She eclipsed her previous record of 19.71m/64-8 which she’d established twice this season and, in doing so, became the fifth woman over 20 meters in the world this year. Ross also broke the John McDonnell Field facility record.
The Medford, Ore., native began her three-throw series with a toss of 18.39m/60-4 and followed up the record throw with a mark of 19.41m/63-8.25 in the third round.
In the first result of the day, Moran secured her fourth-career NCAA Championships appearance with a measure of 66.28m/217-5 in the hammer. She sat in 11th place—within qualifying position—at the end of two rounds but improved her standing up to fourth with that final attempt. Moran was ninth at last year’s national meet with a career-high finish of fifth in 2022 while she was at Arizona State.
Fitzsimmons, in her second appearance at the NCAA West Preliminary, was clean through the first three heights. She cleared 4.10m/13-5.25—third height of the day—for a season best and then posted the PB clearance of 4.20m/13-9.25 on a second attempt. Fitzsimmons finished the day 18th overall.
Along with moving into the UO top four, Fitzsimmons had the best clearance by a UO woman since 2011 (Melissa Gergel).
A day removed from the UO men sending three into the next round of the 1500 meters, the Women of Oregon followed suit with a 3-for-3 effort of their own. The trio of Mia Barnett, Klaudia Kazmierska and Melissa Berry, all competing in the same heat, ran their way into Saturday’s quarterfinal round. Barnett and Kazimerska went 1-2 overall and Berry advanced with an on-time qualifier.
Barnett crossed in a season best of 4:13.10 followed by Kazimierska in 4:14.01 while Berry lowered her lifetime best to 4:21.08—from 4:22.50—to extend her season.
Jadyn Mays was 2-for-2 on her own with advancing efforts at 100 and 200 meters. The Pac-12 champ got her day stared with a windy 10.87 (+4.7) in the 100, the fifth-fastest wind-aided time in NCAA West Prelims history. She returned to run 22.47 over 200 meters, just off her season-best time from the Pac-12 final.
The Ducks advanced two more in the 400 meters with Katriina Wright and Ella Clayton. Wright clocked in at a season best of 52.44, good for a top-three auto qualifier into the next round. Her time was also just .05 off her lifetime best from last year’s Pac-12 Championships. Two heats later, Clayton raced to a season-best time of 52.51 to grab an at-large bid.
Ella Nelson used a personal-best showing of 2:03.21 to move on to the next round of the West Prelims over 800 meters. She began the day with an outdoor best of 2:04.22 from the Bryan Clay Invite earlier this season. Nelson’s time was the fourth fastest of the opening round, and she is into the quarterfinals for a second-consecutive season.
Running in the last heat of the 400 hurdles, Shana Grebo posted the fifth-fastest qualifying time of the opening round. She crossed the line in 56.74 to win the heat and grab an automatic bid into Saturday’s quarterfinal round. Grebo is making her second-career appearance at the NCAA West Preliminary meet with eyes on securing a second national spot.
Notable: Kohana Nakato finished 16th in the javelin (49.11m/161-1)…Alysah Hickey finished 19th in the long jump (6.41m/21-0.5)…Anika Thompson finished 21st at 10,000 meters (34:59.76)…Annika Williams, a combined events specialist, finished 48th in the javelin (37.70m/123-8)…Lily Jones ran an all-conditions best of 11.23 (+3.3) in the 100; missed advancing to quarterfinals by one spot.
Up Next: Day three of the NCAA West Preliminary will feature 10 national qualifying chances for the UO men. The Ducks’ slate begins with the high jump at 9:30 a.m. (PT) and continue with track entries in the 100 meters, 800 meters, 1500 meters, 5,000 meters, steeplechase and 4×100 relay. The Men of Oregon already have a national qualifier with Rafael Raap in the decathlon.
The NCAA East Preliminary is also being held this week in Lexington, Ky. The top 12 in each event at both sites advance to the 2024 NCAA Championships (June 5-8) at Hayward Field in Eugene.
Thursday Results
NCAA West Preliminary (Fayetteville, Ark.)
Q – advances to NCAA Championships | q – advances to quarterfinals
WOMEN
100 Meters
2. Jadyn Mays – 10.87Wq (+4.7)
25. Lily Jones – 11.23w (+3.3)
200 Meters
2. Jadyn Mays – 22.47q
400 Meters
15. Katriina Wright – 52.44q (SB)
19. Ella Clayton – 52.51q (SB)
800 Meters
4. Ella Nelson – 2:03.21q (PB)
1500 Meters
1. Mia Barnett – 4:13.10q (SB)
2. Klaudia Kazimierska – 4:14.01q
20. Melissa Berry – 4:21.08q (PB)
10,000 Meters
21. Anika Thompson – 34.59.76
100m Hurdles
–. Aaliyah McCormick – DNS
400m Hurdles
5. Shana Grebo – 56.74q
Pole Vault
18. Emily Fitzsimmons – 4.20m/13-9.25 (PB) [No. 4 UO]
Long Jump
19. Alysah Hickey – 6.41m/21-0.5
Shot Put
1. Jaida Ross – 20.01m/65-7.75 (CR, MR, FR)
Hammer
4. Shelby Moran – 66.28m/217-5Q
Javelin
16. Kohana Nakato – 49.11m/161-1
48. Annika Williams – 37.70m/123-8
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