Abdi, Fincham-Dukes Qualify for NCAA Outdoor Championships

Thursday, May 23

Sacramento, California

All Day

Oklahoma State University

NCAA West Regionals

Abdi, Fincham-Dukes Qualify for NCAA Outdoor Championships

May 24, 2019 | Cowboy Cross Country & Track, Cowgirl Cross Country & Track

SACRAMENTO—Hassan Abdi and Jacob Fincham-Dukes finished in the top three of their respective events for the Oklahoma State track and field teams, and they both earned trips to the NCAA Outdoor Championships on the first day of competition at the NCAA West Regional.

Abdi ran comfortably through the entirety of the 10,000 meters. He sat back for the first half of the race, making small moves to stay with the lead pack the entire way. With about 1,600 meters to go, Abdi moved into the top 10 and didn't let up from there.

Director of Cross Country and Track and Field Dave Smith said Abdi ran a great race.

"Hassan (Abdi) is 'Mr. Steady,'" Smith said. "He ran a fantastic race with a great finish to punch his ticket. There are big things on the horizon for him."

Abdi wound up finishing in third place with a time of 29:00.45, which qualified him for the NCAA Outdoor Championships in June.

Fincham-Dukes finished as the men's long jump runner-up. He bounced back from a fifth-place finish at the Big 12 Outdoor Championships.

The senior jumper got better with each jump. He ended the competition with a mark of 7.84m/25-8.75. The only man to beat Fincham-Dukes was Big 12 champion Steffin McCarter of Texas.

"Coach Pukstiene has done a great job with Jacob (Fincham-Dukes)," Smith said. "With the way he's jumping, he looks like he can be one of the top guys in the NCAA. I'm excited for him."

With the trip to the NCAA Outdoor Championships, Fincham-Dukes will now have made three consecutive appearances at the event.

Four Cowgirls advanced to the quarterfinal round of competition at the West Regional. SInclaire Johnson, Molly Sughroue, Jenny Martinez and Ariane Ballner all advanced to the next round of competition in the 1,500 meters.

Johnson, Sughroue and Martinez finished in the top five of their respective heats to earn an automatic bid the quarterfinal race Saturday. Ballner was the fastest woman to not earn an automatic qualifier, so she advanced on her time of 4:19.40.

Ashton Hicks and Aaliyah Birmingham also advanced to the quarterfinals of the men's and women's 400 meters. They both run in the quarterfinal round Friday.

Action resumes Friday for OSU at 7:30 with Birmingham's quarterfinal race of the women's 400 meters.

The only other competitors during the second day of competition for OSU will be Ashton Hicks in the quarterfinal of the men's 400 meters and Ryan Smeeton in the semifinal of the men's 3,000-meter steeplechase.

Men's Individual Results

400 Meters
6. Ashton Hicks – 46.29Q
29. LaKyron Mays – 47.28

1,500 Meters
23. Garrett Calhoun – 3:46.36

10,000 Meters
3. Hassan Abdi – 29:00.45q

400-Meter Hurdles
37. Calahan Newsome – 52.62

Long Jump
2. Jacob Fincham-Dukes – 7.84m/25-8.75q

Pole Vault
24. Blake Scott – 5.11m/16-9.25

Women's Individual Results

400 Meters
19. Aaliyah Birmingham – 53.52Q

800 Meters
43. Kaytlyn Larson – 2:10.82

1,500 Meters
7. Molly Sughroue – 4:17.75Q
8. Sinclaire Johnson – 4:18.28Q
16. Ariane Ballner – 4:19.40q
17. Jenny Martinez (Celis) – 4:19.52Q
40. Morgan Szekely – 4:29.23

10,000 Meters
35. Taylor Somers – 35:08.51

Long Jump
36. Schuyler Wood-Hilderbrandt – 5.73m/18-9.75