Oklahoma State University Athletics
Oklahoma State University
NCAA First Round
Clarkson, Miller Earn NCAA Berths
May 25, 2012 | Cowboy Cross Country & Track
May 25, 2012
AUSTIN, Texas - A first-place finish from Toni Young in the women's high jump and NCAA-qualifying performances from men's hammer thrower Nick Miller, men's steeplechase runner Fabian Clarkson and women's steeplechaser Kate Kujawa highlighted the Oklahoma State track and field team's performance on day two of the NCAA West Preliminary held Friday at Mike A. Myers Stadium.
Young cleared 1.80 meters/5-10.75 to tie for first with national leader Brigetta Barrett of Arizona and seven others. The competition was stopped at that height because only 12 competitors were going to advance to the NCAA Championships and the field had already been pared down so there was no need to continue. As a result of her finish, Young officially advanced to the NCAA Championships and now has a chance to become Oklahoma State's first-ever female high jump All-American. She ranked fourth on the national list during the regular season with a school-record leap of 1.86 meters/6-01.25.
"Toni looked good today. We're excited to see her advance to nationals," Jumps coach Zivile Pukstiene said. "It was a long day for her and all of the jumpers. The competition lasted two and 1/2 hours and Toni only had to jump three times. She kept her focus and still tied for first place."
Young was not the only OSU athlete to claim a spot in the NCAA Championships field on Friday, as Miller recorded a heave of 64.52 meters/211-08 to place fourth in the men's hammer throw. The top 12 performers advanced to the national meet, so Miller qualified comfortably. The Oklahoma State school record-holder as a true freshman, Miller ranks seventh nationally in the hammer throw this outdoor season and is a very real candidate to become Oklahoma State's first-ever men's All-American in the event.
"Nick did a great job of managing himself with the heat and with a long day of waiting," OSU throws coach John Baumann said. "He wasn't affected by the conditions and he competed like he should."
Also advancing to the NCAA Championships was Clarkson, who placed third in the first heat of the 3,000 meter steeplechase with an 8:51.32 to qualify automatically for nationals. The Big 12 runner-up in the event, Clarkson ran at the front of the pack for most of Friday's race, but fell back to fifth with 200 meters remaining. He then powered through the final water jump and the last obstacle to pass two runners and place third to secure the final automatic berth from his heat.
"Fabian is tough," Head coach Dave Smith said. "He's never out of a race. He never quits, he never stops fighting. Whatever shortcomings he may have, he makes up for it with his toughness and he showed that by how he ran his race today."
Teammates Nick Thorp and Taylor Monaghan also suited up for the men's 3,000 meter steeplechase, with Thorp placing 12th in heat two with a 9:24.16 and Monaghan not finishing the race in heat three. Monaghan went down in the water pit three laps into his race and was carried off the track. Friday's race marked the end of the season for both Cowboys.
In Oklahoma State's most dramatic competition of the day, women's steeplechaser Kate Kujawa - the Big 12 runner-up in the event - also secured a berth into the NCAA Championships after clocking a personal-best 10:25.01 to take the 12th and final spot for nationals. Kujawa placed fifth in her heat, but her time was among the three best remaining after the top three times in each of the three heats, thus punching her ticket to nationals. Kujawa narrowly edged Illinois' Maddie Aufman by 0.52 of a second to claim her NCAA spot. Kujawa's 10:25.01 Friday stands as the fifth-fastest time in Oklahoma State history.
Making her mark even more impressive is the fact that she hit a personal best at a clutch time on a hot and muggy night that didn't lend itself to runners achieving fast times.
"It was tremendous," Smith said of Kujawa's race. "The pace was fast and we knew that if she could place fifth, she'd probably have one of the three fastest remaining times. She was in position to place fifth but had to hold off a strong kick to earn it. We're very excited for Kate and what she accomplished."
Young, Miller. Clarkson and Kujawa joined Cowboy teammate Girma Mecheso as Oklahoma State athletes who have already earned spots for the NCAA Championships, as Mecheso qualified in the men's 10,000 meter run on day one of the meet Thursday.
Suiting up tomorrow with hopes of earning NCAA berths on the final day of the meet are men's 1,500 meter runners German Fernandez, Raul Botezan and Shane Moskowitz, women's 1,500 meter runner Natalja Piliusina, men's 5,000 meter runners Kirubel Erassa, Neal Smith and Mecheso, men's discus thrower Andrew Hudson and women's hammer thrower Caitlin Way.
2012 NCAA West Preliminary Rounds
May 25, 2012 | Mike A. Myers Stadium | Austin, Texas
Men's Hammer Throw (top 12 advance to NCAA Championships)
4. Nick Miller - 64.52 meters/211-08*
Men's 3,000 meter steeplechase (top 3 from each heat plus next 3 times advance to NCAA Championships)
Heat 1
3. Fabian Clarkson - 8:51.32*
Heat 2
12. Nick Thorp - 9:24.16
Heat 3
-- Taylor Monaghan - DNF
Women's High Jump (top 12 advance to NCAA Championships)
T1. Toni Young - 1.80 meters/5-10.75*
Women's 3,000 meter steeplechase (top 3 from each heat plus next 3 times advance to NCAA Championships)
Heat 1
5. Kate Kujawa - 10:25.01*
* Advanced to the NCAA Championships
