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NCAA West Preliminary (Day 2)
Latimer, Pryce Punch Tickets for Nationals on Day 2 of West Regionals
May 28, 2021 | Track & Field
The duo advance to the NCAA Championships for the second straight time
COLLEGE STATION, Texas – Junior Taylor Latimer and senior Taishia Pryce each punched their tickets for the NCAA Outdoor Track and Field Championships with their performances in the women's shot put and women's long jump on Thursday afternoon, as action continued at the NCAA West Regional at E.B. Cushing Stadium.
Latimer and Pryce each qualified for the NCAA Championships for the second time in their careers with Latimer achieving First Team All-America honors with a fourth-place finish in the shot put at the 2019 Championships, while Pryce earned a trip for the first time in the long jump after qualifying in the 4x100-meter relay team in 2019.
Latimer is the first Wildcat to earn back-to-back trips to the outdoor championships in shot put since Dani Winters captured All-American accolades in both 2015 and 2016. Pryce will look to match or better her effort in the long jump from the indoor season after earning First Team All-America honors on March 12 with a leap of 6.48m/21-3 ¼ to register a seventh-place finish.
In addition to Latimer and Pryce, three Wildcats (junior Vitoria Alves and senior Kimisha Chambers in the women's 100-meter hurdles, senior Wurrie Njadoe in the women's 100 meters and Chambers in the 400-meter hurdles) advanced to the quarterfinals in their respective running events.
The performances highlighted another busy day for the Wildcats at the NCAA West Regional, as 12 athletes continued their pursuits of spots at the NCAA Championships, which will run Wednesday-Saturday, June 9-12 at Hayward Field in Eugene, Oregon. The top 12 competitors from each event will advance to the national meet.
Latimer and Pryce join seniors Logan Wolfley and Jullane Walker, who qualified for the NCAA Championships in the men's javelin and men's long jump on the first day of the West Regional on Wednesday. Wolfley posted an event-best mark of 72.40m/237-6 in the javelin, while Walker grabbed one of the qualifying marks in the long jump with a leap of 7.72m/25-4 on his second attempt to finish in ninth place.
Through two days, six Wildcats have earned berths to the national meet, which includes seniors Ariel Okorie and Lauren Taubert, who have already qualified in the heptathlon after posting scores in the top-24 nationally.
Latimer earned one of the 12 qualifying bids to the NCAA Championships in the shot put by posting a mark of 17.40m/57-1 on her second attempt. She posted a throw of 16.71m/54-10 on her first attempt to sit in seventh-place before jumping to fourth on her second attempt. She ended the day in fifth place after she could not improve her position after registering a mark of 16.98m/55-8 ½ on her third and final attempt.
Pryce was one of three Wildcats competing in the long jump, along with sophomore Chantoba Bright and Njadoe. Pryce opened the competition with a personal-best jump of 6.54m/21-5 ½ on her first attempt to move into first place. The wind-legal mark moved her from fourth to third all-time in school history and topped her previous best of 6.42m/21-00 ¾ at the 2019 Big 12 Championships. She followed with a jump of 6.49m/21-3 ½ on her second attempt before placing fourth overall with a season-best but wind-aided mark of 6.73m/22-1 on her final attempt.
Bright and Njadoe finished behind Pryce with finishes in 23rd and 31st places out of 48 competitors. Bright, who was competing in her West Regional, posted a jump of 6.24m/20-5 ¾ on her third attempt, while Njadoe also had her best mark of the day on her final attempt with a jump of 6.10m/20 ¼. Bright still has an opportunity to advance to the national meet in the triple jump, which is scheduled for 3:15 p.m., CT on Saturday.
Njadoe finished her busy day by competing in the first round of the 100 and 200 meters. She advanced to the quarterfinals of the 100 meters by finishing second in Heat 5 and 13th overall with a season-best time of 11.265. She will compete for a chance to advance to nationals in the 100 on Saturday night at 7:05 p.m., CT. She did not advance past the first round in the 200, finishing fifth place in Heat 6 and 28th overall with a time of 23.40.
Alves and Chambers advanced to the quarterfinals of the 100-meter hurdles by finishing fifth and 13th overall, respectively. Alves placed second in Heat 1 with wind-aided time of 12.83, while Chambers finished fourth in Heat 6 with a wind-legal time of 13.07. They will compete for a shot at nationals on Saturday at 6:45 p.m., CT.
Chambers also advanced to the quarterfinals of the 400-meter hurdles on Saturday night by finishing third in Heat 1 and eighth overall with a time of 58.51. She will compete for a shot at nationals on Saturday at 7:55 p.m., CT.
A pair of sophomores – O'Shalia Johnson and Kassidy Johnson – saw their promising seasons come to an end on Thursday in the women's 400 and 800 meters. O'Shalia Johnson concluded her first season as a Wildcat by finishing eighth in Heat 8 and 39th overall with a time of 54.75 in the 400, while Kassidy Johnson finished fifth in Heat 5 and 34th overall with a time of 2:09.46 in the 800.
Freshman Briana Lowe concluded her solid first inaugural campaign by finishing 37th in the women's javelin with a mark of 44.07m/144-7. She threw better than 40 meters in all six outdoor meets this season, including a season-best 46.64m/153-0 to place fifth at the Big 12 Championships.
The women's hammer competition, which opened the day on Thursday, will continue on Friday morning with another flight involving 16 athletes, including senior Ashley Petr. Senior Helene Ingvaldsen and junior Shaelyn Ward are currently among the top-12 competitors in the event, as Ingvaldsen sits in seventh-place with a mark of 64.64m/212-1 while Ward is in 12th with a mark of 61.52m/201-10.
Action continues at 1 p.m., CT on Friday with day three of the West Regional, as the trio of Kyle Alcine, Devon Richardson and Tejaswin Shankar compete the men's high jump. Other Wildcats vying for a spot at the national meet include seniors Cameron Lewis in the men's shot put and Jah Strange in the men's triple jump and the 4x400-meter relay team.
Thursday's Results
Women's Javelin
37. Briana Lowe – 44.07m/144-7
Women's Long Jump
4. Taishia Pryce – 6.73m/22-1
23. Chantoba Bright – 6.24m/20-5 ¾
31. Wurrie Njadoe – 6.10m/20 ¼
Women's Shot Put
5. Taylor Latimer – 17.40m/57-1
Women's 100-meter Hurdles
5. Vitoria Alves – 12.83 (qualified for quarterfinals)
13. Kimisha Chambers – 13.07 (qualified for quarterfinals)
Women's 100 meters
13. Wurrie Njadoe – 11.265 (qualified for quarterfinals)
Women's 400 meters
39. O'Shalia Johnson – 54.75
Women's 800 meters
34. Kassidy Johnson – 2:09.46
Women's 400-meter Hurdles
8. Kimisha Chambers – 58.51 (qualified for quarterfinals)
Women's 200 meters
28. Wurrie Njadoe – 23.40
Women's Hammer [still ongoing]
7. Helene Ingvaldsen – 64.64m/212-1
12. Shaelyn Ward – 61.52m/201-10
Ashley Petr
Friday's Schedule of Events
1:00 pm – Kyle Alcine, Devon Richardson and Tejaswin Shankar, Men's High Jump
1:30 pm – Cameron Lewis, Men's Discus
3:15 pm – Jah Strange, Men's Triple Jump
7:35 pm – Travis Hodge, Men's 800 meters (if advances)
9:15 pm – Men's 4x400-meter Relay (Sean Wilson, Justin Davis, Tim Lambert, Jr., Jah Strange)
Latimer and Pryce each qualified for the NCAA Championships for the second time in their careers with Latimer achieving First Team All-America honors with a fourth-place finish in the shot put at the 2019 Championships, while Pryce earned a trip for the first time in the long jump after qualifying in the 4x100-meter relay team in 2019.
Latimer is the first Wildcat to earn back-to-back trips to the outdoor championships in shot put since Dani Winters captured All-American accolades in both 2015 and 2016. Pryce will look to match or better her effort in the long jump from the indoor season after earning First Team All-America honors on March 12 with a leap of 6.48m/21-3 ¼ to register a seventh-place finish.
In addition to Latimer and Pryce, three Wildcats (junior Vitoria Alves and senior Kimisha Chambers in the women's 100-meter hurdles, senior Wurrie Njadoe in the women's 100 meters and Chambers in the 400-meter hurdles) advanced to the quarterfinals in their respective running events.
The performances highlighted another busy day for the Wildcats at the NCAA West Regional, as 12 athletes continued their pursuits of spots at the NCAA Championships, which will run Wednesday-Saturday, June 9-12 at Hayward Field in Eugene, Oregon. The top 12 competitors from each event will advance to the national meet.
Latimer and Pryce join seniors Logan Wolfley and Jullane Walker, who qualified for the NCAA Championships in the men's javelin and men's long jump on the first day of the West Regional on Wednesday. Wolfley posted an event-best mark of 72.40m/237-6 in the javelin, while Walker grabbed one of the qualifying marks in the long jump with a leap of 7.72m/25-4 on his second attempt to finish in ninth place.
Through two days, six Wildcats have earned berths to the national meet, which includes seniors Ariel Okorie and Lauren Taubert, who have already qualified in the heptathlon after posting scores in the top-24 nationally.
Latimer earned one of the 12 qualifying bids to the NCAA Championships in the shot put by posting a mark of 17.40m/57-1 on her second attempt. She posted a throw of 16.71m/54-10 on her first attempt to sit in seventh-place before jumping to fourth on her second attempt. She ended the day in fifth place after she could not improve her position after registering a mark of 16.98m/55-8 ½ on her third and final attempt.
Pryce was one of three Wildcats competing in the long jump, along with sophomore Chantoba Bright and Njadoe. Pryce opened the competition with a personal-best jump of 6.54m/21-5 ½ on her first attempt to move into first place. The wind-legal mark moved her from fourth to third all-time in school history and topped her previous best of 6.42m/21-00 ¾ at the 2019 Big 12 Championships. She followed with a jump of 6.49m/21-3 ½ on her second attempt before placing fourth overall with a season-best but wind-aided mark of 6.73m/22-1 on her final attempt.
Bright and Njadoe finished behind Pryce with finishes in 23rd and 31st places out of 48 competitors. Bright, who was competing in her West Regional, posted a jump of 6.24m/20-5 ¾ on her third attempt, while Njadoe also had her best mark of the day on her final attempt with a jump of 6.10m/20 ¼. Bright still has an opportunity to advance to the national meet in the triple jump, which is scheduled for 3:15 p.m., CT on Saturday.
Njadoe finished her busy day by competing in the first round of the 100 and 200 meters. She advanced to the quarterfinals of the 100 meters by finishing second in Heat 5 and 13th overall with a season-best time of 11.265. She will compete for a chance to advance to nationals in the 100 on Saturday night at 7:05 p.m., CT. She did not advance past the first round in the 200, finishing fifth place in Heat 6 and 28th overall with a time of 23.40.
Alves and Chambers advanced to the quarterfinals of the 100-meter hurdles by finishing fifth and 13th overall, respectively. Alves placed second in Heat 1 with wind-aided time of 12.83, while Chambers finished fourth in Heat 6 with a wind-legal time of 13.07. They will compete for a shot at nationals on Saturday at 6:45 p.m., CT.
Chambers also advanced to the quarterfinals of the 400-meter hurdles on Saturday night by finishing third in Heat 1 and eighth overall with a time of 58.51. She will compete for a shot at nationals on Saturday at 7:55 p.m., CT.
A pair of sophomores – O'Shalia Johnson and Kassidy Johnson – saw their promising seasons come to an end on Thursday in the women's 400 and 800 meters. O'Shalia Johnson concluded her first season as a Wildcat by finishing eighth in Heat 8 and 39th overall with a time of 54.75 in the 400, while Kassidy Johnson finished fifth in Heat 5 and 34th overall with a time of 2:09.46 in the 800.
Freshman Briana Lowe concluded her solid first inaugural campaign by finishing 37th in the women's javelin with a mark of 44.07m/144-7. She threw better than 40 meters in all six outdoor meets this season, including a season-best 46.64m/153-0 to place fifth at the Big 12 Championships.
The women's hammer competition, which opened the day on Thursday, will continue on Friday morning with another flight involving 16 athletes, including senior Ashley Petr. Senior Helene Ingvaldsen and junior Shaelyn Ward are currently among the top-12 competitors in the event, as Ingvaldsen sits in seventh-place with a mark of 64.64m/212-1 while Ward is in 12th with a mark of 61.52m/201-10.
Action continues at 1 p.m., CT on Friday with day three of the West Regional, as the trio of Kyle Alcine, Devon Richardson and Tejaswin Shankar compete the men's high jump. Other Wildcats vying for a spot at the national meet include seniors Cameron Lewis in the men's shot put and Jah Strange in the men's triple jump and the 4x400-meter relay team.
Thursday's Results
Women's Javelin
37. Briana Lowe – 44.07m/144-7
Women's Long Jump
4. Taishia Pryce – 6.73m/22-1
23. Chantoba Bright – 6.24m/20-5 ¾
31. Wurrie Njadoe – 6.10m/20 ¼
Women's Shot Put
5. Taylor Latimer – 17.40m/57-1
Women's 100-meter Hurdles
5. Vitoria Alves – 12.83 (qualified for quarterfinals)
13. Kimisha Chambers – 13.07 (qualified for quarterfinals)
Women's 100 meters
13. Wurrie Njadoe – 11.265 (qualified for quarterfinals)
Women's 400 meters
39. O'Shalia Johnson – 54.75
Women's 800 meters
34. Kassidy Johnson – 2:09.46
Women's 400-meter Hurdles
8. Kimisha Chambers – 58.51 (qualified for quarterfinals)
Women's 200 meters
28. Wurrie Njadoe – 23.40
Women's Hammer [still ongoing]
7. Helene Ingvaldsen – 64.64m/212-1
12. Shaelyn Ward – 61.52m/201-10
Ashley Petr
Friday's Schedule of Events
1:00 pm – Kyle Alcine, Devon Richardson and Tejaswin Shankar, Men's High Jump
1:30 pm – Cameron Lewis, Men's Discus
3:15 pm – Jah Strange, Men's Triple Jump
7:35 pm – Travis Hodge, Men's 800 meters (if advances)
9:15 pm – Men's 4x400-meter Relay (Sean Wilson, Justin Davis, Tim Lambert, Jr., Jah Strange)
Eyes on the prize @latimer_2017 ✈️ Eugene, OR#KStateTF x #NCAATF pic.twitter.com/0wrPeQBpqi
— K-State Track (@KStateTFXC) May 28, 2021
Kimisha Chambers clocked a qualifying time of 58.51 (8th place) which advances her to Saturday's Quarterfinal race in the Women's 400m Hurdles set for 7:55pm CT. #KStateTF x #NCAATF pic.twitter.com/b2YThsOuqI
— K-State Track (@KStateTFXC) May 28, 2021
🎟 TICKET PUNCHED 🎟
— K-State Track (@KStateTFXC) May 28, 2021
Taylor Latimer launched a toss of 17.40m (57-1 ft) to finish 5th in the Women's Shot Put West Prelims and will make her way to the 2021 @NCAATrackField Outdoor Championships! #KStateTF x @tay_fay_lat pic.twitter.com/gZoI6xzaFb
Wurrie Njadoe ran a season-best 11.27 in the women's 100m to place 13th overall and qualify for Saturday's Quarterfinal race at 7:05pm CT. #KStateTF x #NCAATF pic.twitter.com/JfmbAh55iE
— K-State Track (@KStateTFXC) May 28, 2021
Take Flight.
— K-State Track (@KStateTFXC) May 27, 2021
Taishia Pryce ✈️ Eugene, OR#KStateTF x #NCAATF pic.twitter.com/X8R6o8qF7P
🎟 TICKET PUNCHED 🎟
— K-State Track (@KStateTFXC) May 27, 2021
Taishia Pryce saved her season's best for last and jumped 6.73m to finish 4th in the Women's Long Jump West Prelims to secure her spot at the 2021 @NCAATrackField Outdoor Championships! #KStateTF x #NCAATF pic.twitter.com/rnHtAkmbqC
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