As a first reminder, there will be 6 Rice Owls competing at next week's NCAA Outdoor Track & Field Championships in Eugene, Oregon:

Wednesday, June 11

6:00 p.m. CDT - Men's Pole Vault (Chris Pillow)

Thursday, June 12

9:15 p.m. CDT - Women's 10,000 meters (Cali Roper)

Friday, June 13

5:15 p.m. CDT - Women's Pole Vault (McKenzie Johnson)

Saturday, June 14

2:35 p.m. CDT - Men's Javelin (Evan Karakolis)

2:45 p.m. CDT - Women's High Jump (Belle MacFarlane)

3:00 p.m. CDT - Women's Shot Put (Claire Uke)

ESPN?

(06-05-2014 12:43 PM)Barney Wrote:  ESPN?

ESPN3 on the first day (Wednesday). After that, ESPNU.

http://www.ustfccca.org/infozone/broadcast-schedule.php

The regular ESPN channels will have kickball (World Cup of soccer).

10 vaulters remain. Chris Pillow alive with a final attempt clearance at 5.50 meters (18' 0.5"). Bar moves up.

Actually, 11 remain. One vaulter missed twice at the height and passed his 3rd attempt to the next bar. He'll have just one attempt.

Pillow missed his first try at 5.55 meters. Jax Thoirs of Washington, who had passed his final attempt at the lower height, missed and is out. Down to 10.

Shawn Barber of Akron and Kingwood Park High School, is passing at this height.

Now for second attempts. Everyone except for Jake Blankenship of Tennessee missed.

2nd attempt miss by Pillow. He's currently in a tie for 7th (based on misses). Bar at 18' 2.5".

2nd attempt clearance by Sam Kendricks of Ole Miss. Pillow still in 7th (tie).

Final attempts now at 18' 2.5".

Pillow is done. Only Pujats can move Chris out of 7th.

Pujats (Memphis) misses. One correction: Reese Watson of Texas is tied with Chris in 7th, and he passed his final attempt to 5.60 meters. If Watson misses, Chris finishes in a tie for 7th and FIRST TEAM ALL-AMERICAN! Even if Watson makes it, Chris will be 8th and still FIRST TEAM ALL-AMERICAN!!!

Congratulations to Chris Pillow on a great meet and outstanding season!

Watson missed. Chris finishes in a tie for 7th!

Coverage tomorrow on ESPN3. I prefer this to regular television (no commercials). Friday and Saturday on ESPNU.

Congrats, Chris, from a fellow Hanoverian.

I believe he has 1 more season of eligibility, so looking forward to further improvement.

(06-11-2014 08:30 PM)WRCisforgotten79 Wrote:  Watson missed. Chris finishes in a tie for 7th!

Congrats to Chris Pillow! Great finish to the season.

Tonight, Cali Roper (our only runner of the 6 Rice athletes) will compete in the finals of the 10,000 meters (9:15 CDT). Here is my preview:

Of the 24 finalists, Cali has the 22nd fastest time (34:18.42), but that doesn't mean that she'll finish 22nd.

Here are the 8 runners I predict will comprise the top 8 (in no particular order):

Kirk, UAB
Kibet, Arizona
Bates, Boise St.
Stites, W&M
Finn, Michigan
Walker, Florida St.
Curham, Princeton
Balouris, W&M

So, can Cali break into the top 16 to earn 2nd team All-America status? She can, but I think it will take a lifetime best (somewhere around 33:55.00). I'll be conservative, and guess 19th place in 34:08.33.

The weather is a little dicey with swirling winds, but a race time temperature perhaps in the low 60s. I think I might revise 16th place to around 34 even.

Not Cali's night - got lapped with 4 to go. Unless someone dropped out, it looks like 22nd or 23rd.