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Two More Cougars Into Nationals on Final Day at NCAA West Preliminary

by wsucougars.com
May 28, 2022

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. –  Washington State junior Aislinn Overby (high jump) and freshman Micaela De Mello (100m hurdles) each qualified for a trip back to Hayward Field for the NCAA Outdoor Track and Field Championships on the final day of NCAA preliminary rounds Saturday at John McDonnell Field.

Overby finished 12th overall, the final qualifying position, in the women's high jump after clearing 1.81m on her third try to advance while De Mello broke the Washington State program record in the 100m hurdles for a fourth time this season, finishing fourth in the first heat at 12.98.  With the top-three from each heat automatically advancing to Eugene, De Mello watched as her first-career sub 13-second time proved to be just enough to earn her trip to the NCAA Championships.
 
Overby opened her day at 1.66m and cleared her first three jumps of the day (1.66m, 1.71m, 1.76m).  Just one cm below her PR, Overby made it over 1.81m/5ft-11.25in on her third attempt to move into the top-12 as competition came to a close with the championships field set.

De Mello led off the WSU women's team in the 4X100m relay as the group opened the Cougars' track events with a fifth-place finish (45.67, 19th overall) in the opening heat.  Pia Richards and Carolina Jerotich ran the 3000m steeplechase together in the second of three heats.  Richards finished 11th in the heat and 29th overall (10:36.76) while Jerotich finished one spot back of her teammate in their race and 33rd overall at 10:43.95.

Leading off the 100m hurdles, De Mello was out of the blocks and over the first hurdle with the leaders in the first of three heats.  In a tightly contested field, the Brazilian freshman narrowly missed a top-three, automatic qualifying spot as Wisconsin's Destiny Huven outstretched De Mello by a .02 second gap at the finish line to finish third.  Having earned another program record and personal best time, De Mello's 12.98 left her 12th overall at the conclusion of the three quarterfinal heats and into the final qualifying spot by a narrow .04 margin.

Washington State's men's and women's teams each concluded the week with three qualifiers into the NCAA Championships on June 8-11 in Eugene, Ore.  Jacob Englar (pole vault), Mitch Jaobson (high jump), and Colton Johnsen (3000m steeplechase) will represent the Cougars at the men's championships and Valentina Barrios Bornacelli (javelin), Overby (high jump) and De Mello (100m hurdles) advance to represent the WSU women back at Hayward Field next month.

The 2022 NCAA Outdoor Track & Field Championships will be hosted at Hayward Field from June 8-11 and will broadcast on ESPNU (Days 1-2), ESPN 2 (Day 3), and ESPN (Day 4).

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 4 Results:

  • Women's High Jump: Aislinn Overby – 1.81m – 5ft-11in, 12th [NCAA Qualifier]
  • 4 X 100m Relay: 45.67, 19th
  • Women's 3000m Steeplechase: Caroline Jerotich – 10:43.95, 33rd
  • Women's 3000m Steeplechase: Pia Richards  - 10:36.76 11th Heat #2, 29th
  • Women's 100m Hurdles: Micaela De Mello – 12.98 (+1.8) 12th [SCHOOL RECORD] [NCAA Qualifier]

 

 

 

 

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