Quartet Of Bears Qualify For NCAA Championships On Day One
FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. - California track & field's men kicked off competition at the NCAA West Preliminary on Wednesday, overcoming stormy weather at John McDonnell Field to qualify four Golden Bears to the upcoming NCAA Outdoor Track & Field Championships in Eugene, Oregon.
Cal's first man to punch his ticket to Eugene was Pac-12 Shot Put Champion Jeff Duensing, who earned his second-straight trip to the NCAA Outdoor Championships with a heave of 19.30m (63-4) – fifth best out of 48 competitors. Redshirt freshman Nick Godbehere joined Duensing in the contest but fell short of the top 12, with his top throw measuring at 17.73m (58-2).
Another Pac-12 champion was the Bears' next qualifier. Senior Skyler Magula passed on the first three opening heights in the pole vault – the only man in the competition to do so – and needed just two jumps to earn a spot in Eugene, clearing his opening bar (5.32m/17-5.5) as well as his next attempt at 5.42m/17-9.25) to tie for first overall and advance for the second-straight season.
In the men's hammer, which was delayed by over 12 hours due to the poor weather conditions, Pac-12 Champion Rowan Hamilton and Ivar Moisander pulled out gutsy performances to qualify for the NCAA Championships with marks of 70.43m (231-1 – fifth place) and 67.25m (220-7 – eighth place), respectively. Cal had never had multiple men's hammer throwers advance to the championships until this year; Moisander will make his third-consecutive appearance in the final, while three-time NAIA Champion Hamilton will make his Division I Outdoor Championships debut. Fellow senior Michael Gupta posted the second-best performance of his career with a top throw of 64.63m (212-0), ultimately finishing 20th in the field to fall short of qualification.
A trio of Cal juniors competed for the Bears on the track. David Foster won the first heat of the 100m with a time of 10.21, earning an automatic qualifying bid to Friday's quarterfinal, while classmate Chase Young concluded his season after finishing the race in 10.43. In the next event, standout 400m runner Isaiah Shaw was originally clocked with a time of 45.95 but was later disqualified for stepping out of his lane.
Senior Mason Mangum and sophomore Jason Plumb each competed in the long jump but missed out on advancing to Eugene; Mangum's mark of 7.63m (25-0.5) placed him just a few spots outside of the top 12, while Plumb ended his season with a leap of 7.42m (24-4.25).
NCAA WEST PRELIMINARY – Day One
Men's 100m First Round – 6. David Foster 10.21 (Q); 32. Chase Williams 10.43
Men's 400m First Round – - Isaiah Shaw DQ
Men's Pole Vault Semifinal – T1. Skyler Magula 5.42m/17-9.25 (q)
Men's Long Jump Semifinal – 16. Mason Mangum 7.63m/25-0.5; 29. Jason Plumb 7.42m/24-4.25
Men's Shot Put Semifinal – 5. Jeff Duensing 19.30m/63-4 (q); 26. Nick Godbehere 17.73m/58-2
Men's Hammer Semifinal – 5. Rowan Hamilton 70.43m/231-1 (q); 8. Ivar Moisander 67.25m/220-7 (q); 20. Michael Gupta 64.63m/212-0
UP NEXT
The Bears' women will begin competition on Thursday, beginning with the hammer throw at 6:30 a.m. PT.
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