Ross, De Klerk Advance to #NCAATF in Shot Put

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – The Oregon women's track and field team collected its first set of NCAA qualifiers Thursday with Jaida Ross and Mine De Klerk in the shot put. The UO women also advanced 11 entries in seven events to Saturday's quarterfinal round.
 
Two of those entries—Jasmine Montgomery and Alexandra Webster—advanced in two events each.
 
Ross and De Klerk finished fifth and ninth in shot put qualifying, respectively, to advance to the NCAA Championships. Ross got better with each attempt Thursday, putting out a day's best of 17.27m/56-8 during the third round. The Medford, Ore., native and UO school-record holder will be making her first appearance at the NCAA Championships.
 
De Klerk moved into qualifying position with a mark of 16.98m/55-8.5 in round two. The last time the UO women had an entry in the shot put was 2016 with Brittany Mann. Ross and De Klerk return to the infield Saturday afternoon for the discus.
 
Advancing to Saturday quarterfinals…
Iman Brown – 200 meters
Ella Clayton – 400 meters
Carly Kleefeld – 800 meters
Jadyn Mays – 100 meters
Jasmine Montgomery – 100 meters, 200 meters
Kemba Nelson – 100 meters
Izzy Thornton-Bott – 1500 meters
Alexandra Webster – 100m hurdles, 400m hurdles
Katriina Wright – 400 meters
 
In her first race of the day, sophomore Alexandra Webster clocked a time of 13.12 to secure a spot into the next round. She finished second in heat six and was the fifth-fastest performer out of the first round. Webster capped her two-race day with a qualifying effort (58.02) in the 400-meter hurdles. She'll have two chances Saturday to advance to the NCAA Championships.
 
Izzy Thornton-Bott (4:20.89) is safely through to Saturday's quarterfinals in the 1500 meters, securing a top-five automatic qualifier in heat four. The Ducks' middle-distance crew picked up another qualifier in Carly Kleefeld (2:06.96) in the 800 meters. The UO senior went from seventh to third place over the final 100 meters in heat six to advance.
 
The UO women went 3-for-3 in the 100 meters with the trio of Kemba Nelson, Jasmine Montgomery and Jadyn Mays advancing to Saturday's quarterfinals. Nelson, leading a 1-2 finish with Montgomery in heat five, was the third-fastest qualifier (11.29) of the night. The sprints crew collected two more qualifiers in the 200 meters with Iman Brown and Montgomery doubling back.
 
Brown won heat two of six in 23.04 and finished the first-round heats as the fifth-fastest qualifier.
 
Oregon added two more quarterfinalists with freshmen Ella Clayton (52.87) and Katriina Wright (53.12) in the 400 meters. Both finished third in their respective heat to move on; Wright charged past a couple runners to go from fifth to third over the final 100 meters.
 
The 2022 NCAA West Preliminary continues Friday with the final day of the men's program featuring 11 opportunities—in seven events—to advance to the NCAA Championships back in Eugene. Starting with the running events at 5 p.m. (PT), day three of the meet will stream on SEC Network+ and through the ESPN app.
 
Chances to Advance | Friday
100 Meters – Micah Williams, Ryan Mulholland
800 Meters – Matthew Erickson, Luis Peralta
1500 Meters – Elliott Cook, Reed Brown
5,000 Meters – Aaron Bienenfeld
400m Hurdles – Will Mundy
4x100m Relay
Triple Jump – Emmanuel Ihemeje, Jonah Tactay
 
Notable: Freshman Kohana Nakota recorded a collegiate PB in the javelin, getting the implement out to 49.84m/163-6 on her second attempt of the day…was passed late in the final round of flight three.
 
Thursday Results
Q – advances to NCAA Championships | q – advances to Saturday quarterfinals
100 Meters – first round
3. Kemba Nelson – 11.29q
11. Jasmine Montgomery – 11.43q
13. Jadyn Mays – 11.45q
 
200 Meters – first round
5. Iman Brown – 23.04
17. Jasmine Montgomery – 23.36
 
400 Meters – first round
13. Ella Clayton – 52.87q
14. Katriina Wright – 53.12q
 
800 Meters – first round
20. Carly Kleefeld – 2:06.96q
39. Ella Nelson – 2:09.32
45. Mia Moerck – 2:14.59
 
1500 Meters – first round
19. Izzy Thornton-Bott – 4:20.89q
35. Nicole Louw – 4:24.93
44. Emilie Girard – 4:29.34
 
10,000 Meters – semifinal
30. Alessia Zarbo – 34:53.13
44. Caramia Mestler – 36:09.49
 
100m Hurdles – first round
5. Alexandra Webster – 13.12q (-0.4)
 
400m Hurdles – first round
15. Alexandra Webster – 58.02q
 
Long Jump
18. Dominique Ruotolo – 6.15m/20-2.25
--. Alysah Hickey – DNS
 
Shot Put
5. Jaida Ross – 17.27m/56-8Q
9. Mine De Klerk – 16.98m/55-8.5Q
 
Javelin
13. Kohana Nakato – 49.84m/163-6 (SB)
 
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