Dixon, St. John Qualify for NCAA Championships on First Day of West Regional
May 25, 2018 | Track & Field
SACRAMENTO, Calif. – Seniors Mitch Dixon and Jess St. John both punched their tickets to the NCAA Championships, while two individuals qualified for event quarterfinals on day one of the NCAA West Preliminary at Hornet Stadium in Sacramento, California on Thursday.
Dixon secured his second NCAA Championship bid of his career in the men's hammer throw on his second-attempt throw of 64.24m/210-09 to place him eighth overall, while St. John qualified for her first NCAA Championship in the women's shot put with a throw of 16.11m/52-10.25 to place 12th.
"Obviously everyone we have here wants to get a good performance so they can move on, but especially for Mitch [Dixon] being at the NCAA Championship meet last year he definitely wanted to make a return trip," Assistant Coach Greg Watson said of Dixon.
Dixon, a native of San Margarita, California, performed in his home-state for the first time this season in front of family and friends, where he did not disappoint. Through his first two throws, Dixon stood in seventh place after his throw of 64.24m/210-09, needing to place in the top-12 of the event to qualify for the NCAA Championships.
"I am just looking to prove myself again and earn an All-American spot and throw as far as I can," Dixon said of his performance on Thursday. "It means a lot to have my family here watching me, I know most of the time my family is keeping up with the stats back home but having them actually here really helped motivate me."
Dixon finished eighth overall in the event, securing his second-consecutive trip to Eugene, Oregon in the hammer throw. Last season, Dixon placed 20th at the Championships.
Later in the day, St. John was the second Wildcat to qualify for the NCAA Championship this weekend, where she competed in the women's shot put. In the third flight of throws, St. John found her best throw on her first attempt, throwing 16.11m/52-10.25 to get the day started.
On her next two throws, St. John was unable to improve upon her initial mark, though she was able to place 12th overall to clinch her first NCAA Championship qualification.
"It is Jess [St. John]'s last outdoor season here, so for her to qualify was big for her as well. I tell our team all the time that we have to finish the season, so we are looking to getting back to training and preparing for the finals in Eugene," Watson added.
In addition to Dixon and St. John qualifying for Eugene, several Wildcats became one step closer on Thursday by qualifying for the quarterfinal round in their respective events.
In the women's 400-meter hurdles, junior Ranae McKenzie earned an auto-qualifying bid into the semi-final round out of heat three, where she ran a leading time of 58.63. McKenzie ran a controlled race to win the heat, just over a week after winning the Big 12 Championship in the event on June 13th. McKenzie will compete in the 400-meter hurdles quarterfinal round beginning at 9:00 p.m. CT on Friday.
Meanwhile, sophomore Jullane Walker competed in two events on Thursday, including the men's 100 meters first round and the men's long jump. In the men's 100 meters, Walker ran a season-best 10.29 out of heat six to place second in his heat and earn an auto-qualifier into Friday's quarterfinal round, which begins at 8:00 p.m. CT.
With Dixon and St. John's qualifying performances on Thursday, they are the latest to join the group of Wildcats that will compete in Eugene on June 6-9, including Nina Schultz (heptathlon), Ariel Okorie (heptathlon) and Aaron Booth (decathlon).
Day two of the NCAA West Preliminary is set to begin at 2:00 p.m. CT with the start of the men's discus. Track events pick up on Friday at 7:00 p.m. CT, before action continues Saturday beginning at 2:00 p.m. CT with the start of the women's hammer throw.
Tickets for the NCAA West Preliminary will be available on an all-meet and single-session basis and can be purchased here. Fans who cannot travel to Sacramento can watch the live stream with a paid subscription available via FloTrack, here, while live results will be available throughout the meet's entirety by clicking here.
For more information on the meet, including ticket information, heat sheets and a full schedule of events, click here.
NCAA West Preliminary (Day One)
Hornet Stadium
Sacramento, California
Men's Hammer Throw
8. Mitch Dixon, 64.24m/210-09 (NCAA Qualifier)
Women's High Jump
11. Clare Gibson, 1.75m/5-08.75
16. Rhizlane Siba, 1.75m/5-08.75
41. Morgan Coffman, 1.65m/5-05
Women's Shot Put
12. Jess St. John, 16.11m/52-10.25 (NCAA Qualifier)
35. Taylor Latimer, 14.87m/48-09.50
36. Gabby Lavington, 14.85m/48-08.75
Men's Long Jump
21. Jullane Walker, 7.40m/24-03.50 (1.6)
Women's 400 Meter Hurdles First Round
12. Ranae McKenzie, 58.63Q
29. Lauren Taubert, 59.68
Men's 100 Meters First Round
11. Jullane Walker, 10.29Q (2.0) (P.R.)
Women's Long Jump
34. Wurrie Njadoe, 5.74m/18-10 (1.8)
Men's 800 Meters First Round
40. Kurt Loevenstein, 1:52.69
For the latest on K-State track and field follow @kstatesports and @KStateTFXC on Twitter or Kansas State Track & Field/Cross Country on Facebook.
Dixon secured his second NCAA Championship bid of his career in the men's hammer throw on his second-attempt throw of 64.24m/210-09 to place him eighth overall, while St. John qualified for her first NCAA Championship in the women's shot put with a throw of 16.11m/52-10.25 to place 12th.
"Obviously everyone we have here wants to get a good performance so they can move on, but especially for Mitch [Dixon] being at the NCAA Championship meet last year he definitely wanted to make a return trip," Assistant Coach Greg Watson said of Dixon.
Dixon, a native of San Margarita, California, performed in his home-state for the first time this season in front of family and friends, where he did not disappoint. Through his first two throws, Dixon stood in seventh place after his throw of 64.24m/210-09, needing to place in the top-12 of the event to qualify for the NCAA Championships.
"I am just looking to prove myself again and earn an All-American spot and throw as far as I can," Dixon said of his performance on Thursday. "It means a lot to have my family here watching me, I know most of the time my family is keeping up with the stats back home but having them actually here really helped motivate me."
Dixon finished eighth overall in the event, securing his second-consecutive trip to Eugene, Oregon in the hammer throw. Last season, Dixon placed 20th at the Championships.
Mitch Dixon is ?? to Eugene! #KStateTF ??
— K-State Track (@KStateTFXC) May 24, 2018
The senior threw 64.24m/210-09 on his second attempt to qualify for the NCAA Championships on June 6-9#NCAAWestTF pic.twitter.com/0s0b03fFjP
Later in the day, St. John was the second Wildcat to qualify for the NCAA Championship this weekend, where she competed in the women's shot put. In the third flight of throws, St. John found her best throw on her first attempt, throwing 16.11m/52-10.25 to get the day started.
On her next two throws, St. John was unable to improve upon her initial mark, though she was able to place 12th overall to clinch her first NCAA Championship qualification.
"It is Jess [St. John]'s last outdoor season here, so for her to qualify was big for her as well. I tell our team all the time that we have to finish the season, so we are looking to getting back to training and preparing for the finals in Eugene," Watson added.
See you in Eugene, Jess St. John! ??
— K-State Track (@KStateTFXC) May 25, 2018
St. John moves on to the NCAA Championships in the women's shot put, recording a throw of 16.11m/52-10.25! #KStateTF pic.twitter.com/TtG3K4x5ou
In addition to Dixon and St. John qualifying for Eugene, several Wildcats became one step closer on Thursday by qualifying for the quarterfinal round in their respective events.
In the women's 400-meter hurdles, junior Ranae McKenzie earned an auto-qualifying bid into the semi-final round out of heat three, where she ran a leading time of 58.63. McKenzie ran a controlled race to win the heat, just over a week after winning the Big 12 Championship in the event on June 13th. McKenzie will compete in the 400-meter hurdles quarterfinal round beginning at 9:00 p.m. CT on Friday.
Meanwhile, sophomore Jullane Walker competed in two events on Thursday, including the men's 100 meters first round and the men's long jump. In the men's 100 meters, Walker ran a season-best 10.29 out of heat six to place second in his heat and earn an auto-qualifier into Friday's quarterfinal round, which begins at 8:00 p.m. CT.
With Dixon and St. John's qualifying performances on Thursday, they are the latest to join the group of Wildcats that will compete in Eugene on June 6-9, including Nina Schultz (heptathlon), Ariel Okorie (heptathlon) and Aaron Booth (decathlon).
Day two of the NCAA West Preliminary is set to begin at 2:00 p.m. CT with the start of the men's discus. Track events pick up on Friday at 7:00 p.m. CT, before action continues Saturday beginning at 2:00 p.m. CT with the start of the women's hammer throw.
Tickets for the NCAA West Preliminary will be available on an all-meet and single-session basis and can be purchased here. Fans who cannot travel to Sacramento can watch the live stream with a paid subscription available via FloTrack, here, while live results will be available throughout the meet's entirety by clicking here.
For more information on the meet, including ticket information, heat sheets and a full schedule of events, click here.
NCAA West Preliminary (Day One)
Hornet Stadium
Sacramento, California
Men's Hammer Throw
8. Mitch Dixon, 64.24m/210-09 (NCAA Qualifier)
Women's High Jump
11. Clare Gibson, 1.75m/5-08.75
16. Rhizlane Siba, 1.75m/5-08.75
41. Morgan Coffman, 1.65m/5-05
Women's Shot Put
12. Jess St. John, 16.11m/52-10.25 (NCAA Qualifier)
35. Taylor Latimer, 14.87m/48-09.50
36. Gabby Lavington, 14.85m/48-08.75
Men's Long Jump
21. Jullane Walker, 7.40m/24-03.50 (1.6)
Women's 400 Meter Hurdles First Round
12. Ranae McKenzie, 58.63Q
29. Lauren Taubert, 59.68
Men's 100 Meters First Round
11. Jullane Walker, 10.29Q (2.0) (P.R.)
Women's Long Jump
34. Wurrie Njadoe, 5.74m/18-10 (1.8)
Men's 800 Meters First Round
40. Kurt Loevenstein, 1:52.69
For the latest on K-State track and field follow @kstatesports and @KStateTFXC on Twitter or Kansas State Track & Field/Cross Country on Facebook.
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