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NCAA West Preliminary Starts Wednesday

May 24, 2022

EUGENE, Ore. – Looking to build its roster of national qualifiers, the Oregon track and field team will compete at the NCAA West Preliminary beginning Wednesday at John McDonnell Field in Fayetteville, Ark. The UO men and women enter the meet as the No. 7 and 9 teams in the country, respectively.
 
Beginning with the track events each day, the 2022 NCAA West Preliminary will be streamed through the SEC Network+ and ESPN app.
 
WatchDay 1 | Day 2 | Day 3 | Day 4
 
The top 48 declared student-athletes in each individual event—24 for relays—are competing for a top-12 finish to secure a trip to the NCAA Championships (June 8-11) back at Hayward Field in Eugene. The NCAA East Preliminary is being held concurrently in Bloomington, Ind.
 
To mirror the format of the national meet, the NCAA Preliminary rounds are held over four days with alternating men's and women's programs. The men compete tomorrow and Friday with the women's schedule slated for Thursday and Saturday.
 
The Men of Oregon have eight opportunities in four events for a national qualifier on day one including five entries in the javelin led by Pac-12 champion Ty Hampton. The Ducks will also have one entry each in the 10,000 meters, long jump—Pac-12 champion Pierce LaCoste—and hammer throw.
 
Chance to Advance | Wednesday
10,000 Meters – Aaron Bienenfeld
Long Jump – Pierce LaCoste
Hammer – Mason Strunk
Javelin – Ty Hampton, Dalton Rasmussen, Eric Lyon, Asher Krauel, Jett Kinder
 
Wednesday's UO schedule will also feature first-round heats in the 100, 800 and 1500 meters and 400-meter hurdles. The top 24 through advance policy move on to Friday's quarterfinals.
 
The UO men have already secured a national qualifier with Max Vollmer in the decathlon. Now a three-time Pac-12 champion in the combined events, Vollmer set a lifetime best of 8,022 in winning the Bryan Clay Invitational in mid-April. This will mark the Ulm, Germany, native's third NCAA appearance.
 
With no combined events at the Preliminary rounds, the top-24 scores in the country earn spots at the NCAA Championships.
 
2022 Postseason Schedule
May 13-15 – Pac-12 Championships (Eugene, Ore.)
May 25-28 – NCAA West Preliminary (Fayetteville, Ark.)
June 8-11 – NCAA Championships (Eugene, Ore.)
 
For more news and information about Oregon cross country and track and field, follow @OregonTF on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.