Rogers Fells Own Record – Again
FAYETTEVILLE, ARKANSAS – Perhaps, for California track & field's Camryn Rogers, it was inevitable.
On Thursday – Day Two of the NCAA West Region Preliminary – the senior from Richmond, B.C., continued her streak of breaking the hammer collegiate record at big-time meets, resetting the bar for the fourth time in her career. Rogers' first throw sailed 76.46m (250-10), nearly two and a half feet farther than her previous collegiate record of 75.73m (248-5).
"The throw felt really good," she said afterwards. "We had a mission going in to get the job done and do it on the first throw – to be able to execute our plan exactly as we set it out to be was really awesome."
Teammate Anna Purchase, who broke the 70-meter mark earlier this season, finished third in the contest with a best throw of 68.95m (226-2). Both she and Rogers will subsequently represent the Bears in the upcoming NCAA Championships in Eugene, Oregon. Including Wednesday's qualifiers (Ivar Moisander and Josh Johnson), Cal has now doubled its 2021 NCAA qualifier total, having sent just two – Rogers and Iffy Joyner – to the Championships last year.
For her part, Rogers is thrilled to be able to compete with Purchase as teammates one last time. "I'm beyond ecstatic," she said. "It's something that we have been preparing for, planning for this entire year. Doing it together makes it all the better."
Sprinter Ezinne Abba continued her senior campaign by qualifying for Saturday's quarterfinals in two events – the 100m dash and the 200m dash – with second-place times of 11.28 and 22.85, respectively, the latter of which was a personal best. Only the nation's leading 100m sprinter (Texas' Julien Alfred) and the No. 10 200m runner (Texas' Rhasidat Aledeleke) were able to best Abba, who finished ahead of 46 other entries in each race.
Although junior Asha Fletcher did not qualify in the long jump, she was the best jumper out of the first two flights with her season-best leap of 6.18m (20-3.5). Despite this, she will have another chance to earn a spot at Eugene, as she is slated to compete in Saturday's triple jump contest.
The men return to action on Friday, starting with the men's discus at 11:00 a.m. PT that will feature collegiate record-holder Mykolas Alekna, Pac-12 third place finisher Iffy Joyner and NCAA shot put qualifier Josh Johnson. Distance runner Garrett MacQuiddy will attempt to qualify for the NCAA Championships after placing 11th in the 1500m prelims, while Pac-12 podium finisher Jai Williams will compete in the high jump. The men's 4x400m relay team will also compete on Friday, hoping to improve upon their inspired performance at the Pac-12 Championships.
Day Two Results
Hammer Throw: 1. Camryn Rogers 76.46m/250-10 (Q) (Canadian Record) (Collegiate Record) (Facility Record) (PR); 3. Anna Purchase 68.95m/226-2 (Q); 27. Rebecca Tomann 59.21m/194-3
100m Hurdles (Prelim): 34. Jada Hicks 13.67
Long Jump: 16. Asha Fletcher 6.18m/20-3.5
Pole Vault: T28. Amari Turner 3.96m/12-11.75
100m Dash (Prelim): 2. Ezinne Abba 11.28 (Q); 25. Maisie Stevens 11.59
Shot Put: 33. Amelia Flynt 15.44m/50-8; 42. Krissy Smoot 14.98m/49-1.75
200m Dash (Prelim): 2. Ezinne Abba 22.85 (Q) (2nd Cal history) (PR); 33. Maisie Stevens 23.77
UP NEXT
Cal's men conclude their slate of competition on Friday, starting with the men's discus at 11:00 a.m. PT.
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