Track & Field At NCAA Perliminary

After a strong showing hosting the Mountain West Championships, the University of Wyoming men's and women's track and field teams will send a school-record 15 members to this weekend's NCAA West Preliminary in Fayetteville, Arkansas.

Eight Cowboys and seven Cowgirls qualified for the regional meet on Thursday through Saturday by posting top-48 marks in their respective events. They now must finish in the top 12 at Arkansas to advance to the NCAA Championships on June 11-14 in Eugene, Ore. Fans can follow live results and live video of the NCAA West Preliminary through GoWYO.com.

Wyoming concluded the MW meet on May 17 with a school-record seven event titles to pace the men and women to fifth and fourth, respectively, in the team race. The Cowgirls posted 94 points for their highest finish since 2005 and most points since 2004, while the Cowboys earned 110 for their highest finish since 2010 and second-most points ever at the MW outdoor meet. Sophomore Kereston Thomas was the most impressive Cowgirl during the event, as she won the 100 meters in a school-record time, was part of the winning 4x100-meter relay and was just barely edged in the 200 meters to finish second. Senior Mason Finley continued his outstanding outdoor campaign with victories in the discus and shot put. His throw in the shot put set a Louis S. Madrid Sports Complex record and ranked fifth in school history.

"Our program is proud we qualified our most kids ever for the region meet, but what's more exciting is several have a chance to advance on to the national meet," UW head coach Bryan Berryhill said. "Because of their performances during the regular season, they don't have to do anything special at regionals this weekend. They don't need to put pressure on themselves to overperform in their events, but just go out and do what got them here. If they do that, we could advance a handful of kids."

History at the NCAA West Preliminary
Wyoming's 15 qualifiers for this year's NCAA West Preliminary are the program's most ever, topping 14 in 2012 as the previous high. However, just one UW athlete has advanced past the regional meet in the four-year history of the current qualifying system. Jeremiah James made the NCAA Championships in the triple jump in 2010. The Wyoming men and women have both earned 18 All-America honors outdoors. The last Cowboy to claim the accolade was Jake Shanklin finishing 10th in the hammer in 2009, while the last Cowgirl was national champion Shauna Smith in the 400-meter hurdles in 2005.

15 Wyoming Tracksters Earn NCAA Bids
Fifteen University of Wyoming track and field members have qualified to compete in the NCAA West Preliminary on May 29-31 in Fayetteville, Ark., the governing body announced last Thursday. Eight Cowboys and seven Cowgirls represent the program's highest total ever.

To reach the NCAA's East or West Preliminary meet, an athlete must be ranked in the region's top 48 of his/her event. From there, the top 12 finishers in each event at the two regional meets will receive an bid to the NCAA Championships on June 11-14 in Eugene, Ore.

Wyoming's NCAA West Preliminary Qualifiers

Cowboys (8)
Tyler Anderson - Hammer - 198-0 - 42nd West
Amos Bowen - 5,000 Meters - 14:07.20 - 44th West
Scott Carter - Triple Jump - 50-6 3/4 - 26th West
Jordan Charles - 110 Hurdles - 14.11 - 31st West
Mason Finley - Discus - 210-6 - 2nd West
Harry Fisher - 800 Meters - 1:49.51 - 22nd West
Paul Thomas - Discus - 190-11 - 13th West
Garrett Zans - Steeplechase - 8:50.45 - 10th West

Cowgirls (7)
Shreese Daniels - Hammer - 190-6 - 39th West
Audra DeStefano - Steeplechase - 10:24.04 - 32nd West
Taylor Gardner - 400 Hurdles - 58.14 - 13th West
Jenna Mann - Long Jump - 19-6 1/4 - 47th West
Jenna Mann - 100 Hurdles - 13.58 - 31st West
Holly Page - 10,000 Meters - 35:04 - 48th West
Kereston Thomas - 100 Meters - 11.57 - 28th West
Kereston Thomas - 200 Meters - 23.85 - 35th West
Mann, Thomas, Gardner, Katy Hall - 4x100 Relay - 45.32 - 22nd West