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Jacobson and Johnsen Moving On; Men Wrap Up NCAA West Preliminary Competition

by wsucougars.com
May 27, 2022

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – Mitch Jacobson (high jump) and Colton Johnsen (3,000m steeplechase) became the final two WSU men to qualify for nationals as the Washington State men's outdoor track and field team wrapped up day three of the NCAA West Preliminary competition Friday at John McDonnell Field.

Jacobson tied his PR to finish third overall in the high jump (5.18m) while Johnsen (8:38.24) won the second heat of the 3000m steeplechase, finishing ninth overall in the event to earn a trip to the NCAA Championships in Eugene, Ore. (June 8-11).  Johnsen will look to become the first Cougar to earn back-to-back All-American honors in the steeplechase since former Olympic Gold Medalist Julius Korir was a back-to-back All-American in 1983-84 while Jacobson gets set to cap his collegiate career with a third-straight nationals appearance.  The pair will be joined by junior pole vaulter Jacob Englar who qualified for his first-career trip to the NCAA Championships back on night one of the West Preliminary.

Johnsen moved from second into first-place as he and Arkansas State's Bennett Pascoe started on the final 400-meters of the 3000m steeplechase (top-three advance to the NCAA Championships). Johnsen would go on to increase his cushion over the final 200-meter stretch and crossed the finish less than four seconds from his season-best (8:34.33).

Jacobson cleared the bar on his first three jumps of the day (2.0m, 2.05m, 2.10m) before needing only two tries to make it over 2.15m.  Jacobson tied his PR at 2.18m on his first attempt which officially booked his trip back to Eugene as he finished in a group of only five jumpers on Friday to clear 2.18m on their first try.

Ronald Grueso Mosqquera (53.54m, 20th overall) and John Kolb (49.52m, 41st overall) were the first two Cougars into action on day three of the West Preliminary in the men's discus.  Grueso Mosqquera finished within three feet of his PR and season-best mark as he wrapped up his first-career NCAA West Preliminary round appearance on day three after making his debut in Wednesday's shot put.

Zach Stallings led the opening lap of the second heat in the men's 1500m run but fell behind the top-five automatic qualifying spots going into the final 200-meter stretch.  Stallings ultimately fell just 0.75 seconds outside of qualifying position with his 16th-overall finish.  True freshman Kelvin Limo also narrowly missed out on a trip to Eugene, crossing the finish line in the third heat of the steeplechase with a PR (8:45.28) and 16th-place overall finish.

The Cougars will wrap up their week in Arkansas tomorrow as Aislinn Overby competes in the women's high jump beginning at 12:30 p.m. to begin the final day for WSU.  Micaela De Mello, Pac-12 Freshman of the Year, competes in the women's 100m hurdles quarterfinal on Saturday beginning at 4:15 p.m., and will also lead-off the Cougars' 4X100m relay team which kicks off Saturday's ESPN-plus coverage beginning at 3 p.m.

For all the latest track & field news, photos and videos, follow the teams on Facebook (facebook.com/wsucougartrack), Twitter (@wsucougartf) and Instagram (@wsucougartf).
 

WSU Day 3 Results:

  • Discus: John Kolb – 49.52m – 162'-5" [3rd attempt], 41st overall
  • Discus: Ronald Grueso Mosqquera -- 53.54m – 175'-8" [2nd attempt], 20th overall
  • High Jump: Mitch Jacobson – 2.18m [1st attempt], 3rd overall [NCAA Qualifier]
  • 1,500m Run: Zach Stallings – 3:43.76,  7th heat No. 2 of 2 - 16th overall
  • 3,000m Steeplechase: Colton Johnsen – 8:38.24, 1st heat 2 of 3 – 9th overall [NCAA Qualifier]
  • 3,000m Steeplechase: Kelvin Limo – 8:45.28, 5th heat 3 of 3 – 16th overall
  • 3,000m Steeplechase: Sam Griffith – 9:19.71, 16th heat 2 of 3 – 48th overall

WSU Day 4 Schedule:

  • 12:30 p.m. | Women's High Jump
  • 3 p.m. | 4 X 100m Relay
    • Micaela De Mello, Skyler Walton, Jasneet Nijjar, Elise Unruh-Thomas- Heat #1, Lane #9 [SB: 45.10]
  • 3:40 p.m. | Women's 3000m Steeplechase
  • 4:15 p.m. | Women's 100m Hurdles

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