Rice athletes are in action this weekend at the NCAA Track & Field Championships (1st Round) in Austin. This used to be called the West Regional. The top 48 athletes per event (24 in relays) are in Austin to determine the top 12 in each event to head to Eugene for the NCAA Championships in 2 weeks. The formerly entitled East Regional will do likewise.

We already have one qualifier for Eugene - Clayton Chaney in the Decathlon. The Decathletes are taken from a national list, as it would be too grueling for them to compete in so many Decathlons within a short period of time.

We have FOUR athletes competing today/tonight:

Men's Discus - noon

Alex Zinchenko - he comes in with mark #43, and only 16 advance for 3 additional throws to determine the top 12.

Women's Hammer Throw - 2:00 p.m.

Sharae Robinson - she is ranked #47, and, as with all field events, only the top 16 advance for 3 additional attempts.

Women's 10,000 Meters - 9:00 p.m.

Marie Thompson - Marie is ranked #39. The top 12 finishers tonight head to Eugene.

Men's 10,000 Meters - 9:40 p.m.

Gabe Cuadra - he is #46.

All of today's athletes are seniors.

In the coming days, we still have Claire Uke (shot put), McKenzie Johnson (women's pole vault) and Chris Pillow (men's pole vault), as well as Heather Olson (steeplechase). Each of these will be back next year.

Also, Evan Karakolis (javelin) and Ben Pressley (long jump). They also will be back next year.

Zinchenko got 26th in the discus (173-7).
They haven't posted final hammer results but Robinson didn't advance.

Gabe Cuadra did much better than his seeding in the 10K, finishing 23rd in 30:56.26.

The prelims of the men's long jump were today. Ben Pressley did not advance.

After a great effort at the conference meet, Marie Thompson had nothing left in the tank, finishing the 10K in 45th place, in 38:12.07.

Thank you for all of the great efforts to these athletes. And congratulations on fine seasons this year.

McKenzie Johnson is passing on the opening height, as the women's pole vault is underway.

Pole vault halted for awhile due to weather.

Track stadium being dried. I'll update when relevant.

McKenzie no-height at 3.86 meters.

Still waiting for women's steeplechase results (Heather Olson).

Heather finished in 44th place in 10:58.21.

Somehow, I neglected to mention that, on Friday, Sharae Robinson finished 44th in the discus, with a best throw of 142' 11".

Today is the final day of competition, and we have two more Owls - Chris Pillow in the men's pole vault and Claire Uke in the women's shot put.

And Chris Pillow continues the Rice pole vault tradition, as he no-heights.

(05-24-2013 09:13 PM)WRCisforgotten79 Wrote:  McKenzie Johnson is passing on the opening height, as the women's pole vault is underway.

Pole vault halted for awhile due to weather.

McKenzie no-height at 3.86 meters.

What was McKenzie's the strategy in passing the opening height? Were the weather conditions such that she was hoping for a longer delay? Were the numbers of competitors such that passing would mean much less down time between attempts?

Looking at her season results, she'd no-heighted three times this year (Lopez Meet @Rice, El Paso and Sam Houston), but had cleared 4.06 at Texas Relays, 3.95 at SFA and 4.02 at Conference USA.

(05-25-2013 03:59 PM)Almadenmike Wrote:  

(05-24-2013 09:13 PM)WRCisforgotten79 Wrote:  McKenzie Johnson is passing on the opening height, as the women's pole vault is underway.

Pole vault halted for awhile due to weather.

McKenzie no-height at 3.86 meters.

What was McKenzie's the strategy in passing the opening height? Were the weather conditions such that she was hoping for a longer delay? Were the numbers of competitors such that passing would mean much less down time between attempts?

Looking at her season results, she'd no-heighted three times this year (Lopez Meet @Rice, El Paso and Sam Houston), but had cleared 4.06 at Texas Relays, 3.95 at SFA and 4.02 at Conference USA.

You pass an opening height when you anticipate having to clear many bars in order to finish well in the competition. Energy conservation.

There is not a long wait once competition begins, because in a large field, 5-alive is used. You take the first 5 vaulters, and as each one clears a height, or misses three times, you move the next vaulter into the rotation.

Our final Owl is Claire Uke in the shot put tonight.

Her first throw was 16.03 meters, the best so far. She is in flight 3, with 12 in each flight. The first 2 -Are done. Top 16 get 3 additional throws, so all she needs to do is to finish among the top 4 in her flight to be guaranteed 3 more throws.

Claire stands 11th as she heads to finals. Top 12 make it to Eugene. Come on Claire!

(05-25-2013 07:24 PM)WRCisforgotten79 Wrote:  Claire stands 11th as she heads to finals. Top 12 make it to Eugene. Come on Claire!

How exciting! Are there any live or video links?