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Barrios Bornacelli Advances to Eugene as Women Open NCAA West Preliminary

by wsucougars.com
May 26, 2022

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. –  Valentina Barrios Bornacelli finished 11th-overall in the javelin throw (50.63m) and Micaela De Mello advanced to the quarterfinal of the women's 100m hurdles (13.24) as the Washington State women's outdoor track and field team continued its postseason run on day two of the NCAA West Preliminary round Thursday at John McDonnell Field.
 
Barrios Bornacelli, a true freshman from Barranquilla, Columbia, went head-to-head with the best competition in the field throwing from the third and final flight of the women's javelin.  She entered the preliminary round as the 10th seed and jumped into third overall in the competition on her first attempt with a mark of 50.63m (166'-1").  Her first throw, which was almost four full feet further than her second-place throw her last time out at the Pac-12 Championships, proved enough for 11th-overall and a spot in Eugene for the NCAA Championships.   One of three freshman in Thursday's West preliminary field to advance, Barrios Bornacelli will represent the Cougars against the best in the nation for a program that hasn't seen a women's javelin All-American since Courtney Kirkwood in 2011.
 
Micaela De Mello finished off the first track event of the night as she ran the final heat of the women's 100m hurdles, clocking a time of 13.24 to finish third in her heat and earn the final automatic qualifying spot.  The women's 100m hurdle quarterfinal will take place Saturday at 4:15 p.m. (PST).
 
Anna Rodgers, competing at the West preliminaries for the first time in her career, finished seventh in the long jump after improving on her first jump with 5.92m-19'-5.25" on her second jump of the day. Skyler Walton, also making her NCAA Championships debut, finished seventh in the first heat of the 100m dash at 11.77, just .23 seconds shy of her PR and .25 seconds from a WSU outdoor record.
 
Sophomore Neema Kimtai made her first-career NCAA Championships appearance in the 800m run and finished 38th overall with a time of 2:09.24.  Rounding out the night for WSU, Mevin Jelegat followed up her freshman and school-record in the 10,000m run (33:56.49) at the Pac-12 Championships with a 36:32.27 to finish 45th overall at Thursday's West preliminary as one of only seven freshman in the 48-person West regional field.

Throwers will get the day-three action started as Ronald Grueso Mosqquera and John Kolb compete in the discuss beginning at 11 a.m.  2021 NCAA Championships qualifier Mitch Jacobson takes his shot at back-to-back nationals appearances in the high jump starting at 12:30 p.m. and Colton Johnsen will lead a trio of Cougars in the 3000m steeplechase starting at 3:40 p.m. to close out the day for WSU.
 
For all the latest track & field news, photos and videos, follow the teams on Facebook (facebook.com/wsucougartrack), Twitter (@wsucougartf) and Instagram (@wsucougartf).
 

WSU Results:


Day 3 WSU Schedule:

  • 11 a.m. | Men's Discus
  • 12:30 p.m. | Men's High Jump
  • 3:15 p.m. | Men's 1,500m Run
  • 3:40 p.m. | Men's 3,000m Steeplechase

Day 2 Highlights:

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