Three More Wildcats Qualify for NCAA’s on Day Two of the West Preliminaries
May 26, 2018 | Track & Field
SACRAMENTO, Calif. – The Kansas State track and field team saw three individuals, including senior Morgan Wedekind and juniors Ranae McKenzie and Shadae Lawrence, secure NCAA Championship bids on a significant second day of the West Preliminary at Hornet Stadium in Sacramento, California on Friday.
Among the NCAA qualifiers who will compete in Eugene, Oregon on June 6-9, Lawrence set a new NCAA best in the women's discus this season with a throw of 62.10m/203-09 to secure her ticket to the Championships, while Wedekind recorded the second-fastest time in the women's 3,000-meter steeplechase in school history, running 9:56.26. McKenzie also secured her third NCAA Championship bid, running 57.44 in the women's 400-meter hurdles.
"It was good to set a new season-best on my first attempt. I have been struggling mechanically this season, so I really wanted to go out and get a good throw early," Lawrence said of her NCAA leading throw. "I can't wait to keep training and getting stronger for NCAA's."
Lawrence, last year's NCAA Champion in the women's discus, entered the West Preliminary ranked second in the discus with a season-best throw of 61.08m/200-05 entering Friday's competition. On her first throw out of flight three, Lawrence unleashed a new NCAA-leading throw of 62.10m/203-09 to put herself in first place through round one.
On her next two attempts, Lawrence was unable to improve upon her new season-best mark, though it was enough to place first in the West Preliminary and secure her a shot at defending her NCAA title from a year ago.
Meanwhile on the track, Big 12 Champion in the 400-meter hurdles, McKenzie entered the West Preliminaries with the third-fastest time in the NCAA of 56.06 set at the Big 12 Championship on May 13. McKenzie continued her momentum on Friday, running an NCAA-qualifying 57.44 out of heat three to secure her third NCAA Championship bid in her career, after earning second-team All-American honors in the event in 2017.
The final NCAA qualifier on day two came from Wedekind, who executed a thrilling race in the women's 3,000-meter steeplechase. Wedekind, ranked 13th going into the race with her time of 10:08.36, positioned herself with the leaders throughout the first 1,600 meters taking over third place. Needing to place in the top-three to automatically qualify, Wedekind stepped on the gas and created distance in the final 600 meters, finishing third in 9:56.26 to secure her NCAA Championship berth, while also setting a new personal best and the second-fastest time in K-State history.
In addition to Wedekind's qualifying effort, senior Kayla Doll ran a strong race in the women's 3,000-meter steeplechase, running 10:19.79 to place 31st overall, which is just off her personal best of 10:18.76 set at the Drake Relays earlier this year.
"I thought that Kayla [Doll] and Morgan [Wedekind] both competed very well," Assistant Coach Ryun Godfrey said. "I was very proud of both of their races, for Morgan, she ran the race very smart and put herself in a great position throughout the race. It is very excited to see her qualify."
Along with the three NCAA Championship qualifiers, seniors Terrell Smith and A'Keyla Mitchell both placed themselves in the quarterfinals of the 200 meters on Saturday. Smith, running out of heat one, coasted through the 200 meters to finish in 20.71 to finish first in his heat to automatically qualfiy. Mitchell followed Smith in the women's portion of the 200 meters, placing third in her heat in 23.35 to grab an auto-qualifier for Saturday's quarterfinal. The 200 meter quarterfinal action will begin at 9:30 p.m. CT on Saturday with the start of the men's heats, followed by the women's.
With the Wildcats advancing Wedekind, Lawrence and McKenzie on Friday, they are the latest to join the group of Wildcats that will compete in Eugene on June 6-9, including Jess St. John (shot put), Mitch Dixon (hammer throw) Nina Schultz (heptathlon), Ariel Okorie (heptathlon) and Aaron Booth (decathlon).
Day three of the NCAA West Preliminary is set to begin at 2:00 p.m. CT on Saturday with the start of the women's hammer throw, followed by the track events which pick up at 8:00 p.m. CT. The Wildcats will have 11 individuals competing in seven events on the final day of the NCAA West Preliminary.
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 Two)
Hornet Stadium
Sacramento, California
Men's Discus
19. Brett Neelly, 53.18m/174-06
Women's Discus
1. Shadae Lawrence, 62.10m/203-09 (NCAA Qualifier)
42. Ashley Petr, 46.91m/153-11
Men's 100 Meter Quarterfinal
17. Jullane Walker, 10.44 (.2)
Women's 400 Meter Hurdles Quarterfinal
5. Ranae McKenzie, 57.44 (NCAA Qualifier)
Men's 200 Meter First Round
5. Terrell Smith, 20.76Q
Women's 200 Meter First Round
14. A'Keyla Mitchell, 23.35Q (.8)
Women's 3,000-meter Steeplechase Quarterfinal
8. Morgan Wedekind, 9:56.26 (NCAA Qualifier) (P.R.)
31. Kayla Doll, 10:19.79
For the latest on K-State track and field follow @kstatesports and @KStateTFXC on Twitter or Kansas State Track & Field/Cross Country on Facebook.
Among the NCAA qualifiers who will compete in Eugene, Oregon on June 6-9, Lawrence set a new NCAA best in the women's discus this season with a throw of 62.10m/203-09 to secure her ticket to the Championships, while Wedekind recorded the second-fastest time in the women's 3,000-meter steeplechase in school history, running 9:56.26. McKenzie also secured her third NCAA Championship bid, running 57.44 in the women's 400-meter hurdles.
"It was good to set a new season-best on my first attempt. I have been struggling mechanically this season, so I really wanted to go out and get a good throw early," Lawrence said of her NCAA leading throw. "I can't wait to keep training and getting stronger for NCAA's."
Lawrence, last year's NCAA Champion in the women's discus, entered the West Preliminary ranked second in the discus with a season-best throw of 61.08m/200-05 entering Friday's competition. On her first throw out of flight three, Lawrence unleashed a new NCAA-leading throw of 62.10m/203-09 to put herself in first place through round one.
On her next two attempts, Lawrence was unable to improve upon her new season-best mark, though it was enough to place first in the West Preliminary and secure her a shot at defending her NCAA title from a year ago.
— K-State Track (@KStateTFXC) May 26, 2018
Shadae Lawrence is Eugene Bound! #KStateTF ??
Last year's @NCAATrackField Discus Champion will defend her title after throwing an NCAA leading 62.10m/203-09 at the West Preliminary pic.twitter.com/3wiWGEZh1G
Meanwhile on the track, Big 12 Champion in the 400-meter hurdles, McKenzie entered the West Preliminaries with the third-fastest time in the NCAA of 56.06 set at the Big 12 Championship on May 13. McKenzie continued her momentum on Friday, running an NCAA-qualifying 57.44 out of heat three to secure her third NCAA Championship bid in her career, after earning second-team All-American honors in the event in 2017.
— K-State Track (@KStateTFXC) May 26, 2018
???????Ranae McKenzie just booked her ?? to Eugene! #KStateTF ??
The junior ran 57.44 in the women's 400 meter hurdles to earn an auto qualifier into the NCAA Championships on June 6-9! pic.twitter.com/YoXz9ULLMH
The final NCAA qualifier on day two came from Wedekind, who executed a thrilling race in the women's 3,000-meter steeplechase. Wedekind, ranked 13th going into the race with her time of 10:08.36, positioned herself with the leaders throughout the first 1,600 meters taking over third place. Needing to place in the top-three to automatically qualify, Wedekind stepped on the gas and created distance in the final 600 meters, finishing third in 9:56.26 to secure her NCAA Championship berth, while also setting a new personal best and the second-fastest time in K-State history.
— K-State Track (@KStateTFXC) May 26, 2018
See you in Eugene, Morgan Wedekind! #KStateTF
She becomes the eighth Wildcat to advance to the NCAA Championships, running a HUGE PR of 9:56.26 in the 3,000-meter steeplechase! pic.twitter.com/Vrs3GojsO8
In addition to Wedekind's qualifying effort, senior Kayla Doll ran a strong race in the women's 3,000-meter steeplechase, running 10:19.79 to place 31st overall, which is just off her personal best of 10:18.76 set at the Drake Relays earlier this year.
"I thought that Kayla [Doll] and Morgan [Wedekind] both competed very well," Assistant Coach Ryun Godfrey said. "I was very proud of both of their races, for Morgan, she ran the race very smart and put herself in a great position throughout the race. It is very excited to see her qualify."
Along with the three NCAA Championship qualifiers, seniors Terrell Smith and A'Keyla Mitchell both placed themselves in the quarterfinals of the 200 meters on Saturday. Smith, running out of heat one, coasted through the 200 meters to finish in 20.71 to finish first in his heat to automatically qualfiy. Mitchell followed Smith in the women's portion of the 200 meters, placing third in her heat in 23.35 to grab an auto-qualifier for Saturday's quarterfinal. The 200 meter quarterfinal action will begin at 9:30 p.m. CT on Saturday with the start of the men's heats, followed by the women's.
With the Wildcats advancing Wedekind, Lawrence and McKenzie on Friday, they are the latest to join the group of Wildcats that will compete in Eugene on June 6-9, including Jess St. John (shot put), Mitch Dixon (hammer throw) Nina Schultz (heptathlon), Ariel Okorie (heptathlon) and Aaron Booth (decathlon).
Day three of the NCAA West Preliminary is set to begin at 2:00 p.m. CT on Saturday with the start of the women's hammer throw, followed by the track events which pick up at 8:00 p.m. CT. The Wildcats will have 11 individuals competing in seven events on the final day of the NCAA West Preliminary.
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 Two)
Hornet Stadium
Sacramento, California
Men's Discus
19. Brett Neelly, 53.18m/174-06
Women's Discus
1. Shadae Lawrence, 62.10m/203-09 (NCAA Qualifier)
42. Ashley Petr, 46.91m/153-11
Men's 100 Meter Quarterfinal
17. Jullane Walker, 10.44 (.2)
Women's 400 Meter Hurdles Quarterfinal
5. Ranae McKenzie, 57.44 (NCAA Qualifier)
Men's 200 Meter First Round
5. Terrell Smith, 20.76Q
Women's 200 Meter First Round
14. A'Keyla Mitchell, 23.35Q (.8)
Women's 3,000-meter Steeplechase Quarterfinal
8. Morgan Wedekind, 9:56.26 (NCAA Qualifier) (P.R.)
31. Kayla Doll, 10:19.79
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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