NCAA D1 Outdoor West Prelims

Top 10 NCAA Preliminary Moments: Day 2

Top 10 NCAA Preliminary Moments: Day 2

May 29, 2015 by Taylor Dutch
Top 10 NCAA Preliminary Moments: Day 2


1. Jasmine Todd and Jenna Prandini Rock the 100m

Jasmine Todd and Jenna Prandini both punched their tickets to Eugene with the top two fastest marks of the day in the women’s 100m. After running a 10.89 (+4.0) yesterday, Todd returned to the track to easily take heat 1 in 10.88 (+3.7). The mark puts her No. 3 on the world list for all conditions. Prandini followed her teammate with an easy win in heat 2, taking the field over with an 11.11 (+1.8) finishing time. 

2. Trayvon Bromell Breaks Stadium Record With 200m PB

2015 NCAA Indoor Champion Trayvon Bromell took the men’s 100m by storm with a wind-aided 9.93 (+2.4) for the fastest time of the day in Austin. He returned to run the 200m first round in a new personal best and Myers Stadium record mark of 20.13 (+1.6) for an easy win in heat three. The 200m time puts him No. 5 in the world this year, just behind Usain Bolt’s Ostrava performance last week. 

3. Florida Falters: Arman Hall, Stipe Zunic, T.J. Holmes, Antwan Wright Fail to Qualify

It was a disappointing day for the Florida Gators who failed to qualify four key contributors to the NCAA Outdoor Finals in Eugene. Florida’s All American 400m star Arman Hall finished fifth in heat three with a time of 46.22 at the East Preliminaries, just two spots short of qualifying for the NCAA Outdoor Championships in Eugene. A mainstay of the Florida 4x400m squad, Hall should remain a contributor on the relay team. Stipe Zunic, the 2015 NCAA Indoor shot put champion failed to qualify in the discus after finishing 13th overall. T.J. Holmes was another odd man out after finishing 14th overall in the men’s 400m hurdles, and Antwan Wright failed to punch his ticket to Eugene in the 100m after finishing 15th in 10.48. 
 

4. Leah O’Connor Runs a Steeple PB in East Preliminary

The 2014 NCAA Champion left nothing to chance in heat three of the women’s steeplechase. O’Connor ran away from the field early to take the win in a new personal best mark of 9:35.33, three seconds ahead of the second-fastest finisher Colleen Quigley who clocked a 9:38.24 in heat one. 

5. Texas’ NCAA Champ Kaitlin Petrillose Doesn’t Advance

Texas’ Big 12 champion in the pole vault failed to advance to the NCAA Outdoor Finals in Eugene after missing on every attempt when the bar was set at 4.24m. The 2014 NCAA Outdoor Champion was returning from winning a decisive Big 12 title in a season’s best mark of 4.43m.  
 

6. Brett Kelly Loses Shoe Two Laps Into Steeplechase and Finishes

North Dakota State’s Brett Kelly had one of the most impressive performances of the night after losing his shoe two laps into the steeplechase and finishing. The senior was stepped on by another competitor and continued to run without his shoe over every barrier. Kelly was the second runner of the meet to lose a shoe mid-race after Colorado’s Pierce Murphy lost his spike in the men’s 10K last night. 

7. Brandon McBride Runs NCAA Lead, Edward Kemboi Nearly Breaks Stadium Record

In the east preliminaries, two-time NCAA Champion Brandon McBride blazed a 1:45.97 to easily win his heat of the men’s 800m and advance off of place. The mark is the second-fastest time run by the Mississippi State standout this year. 
In the west preliminaries just an hour later, Iowa State’s Edward Kemboi nearly claimed a Myers Stadium record in a time of 1:46.23. The mark was just off of the 2015 NCAA Indoor Champion’s season’s best time of 1:46.17 from Payton Jordan. 
 

8. Alethia Marrero Takes Down Claudia Francis in 800m

The Indiana State sophomore had a breakout performance Friday at the east preliminaries after beating Florida All American Claudia Francis in heat three of the 800m. Her winning time of 2:02.67 was the fastest time of the day and a two second personal best for the ISU standout. 

9. Dezerea Bryant Runs Personal Best in First Round of 200m

Kentucky’s NCAA Indoor Champion turned on the jets in the first round of the women’s 200m with a new personal best of 22.62 for the fastest time of the day at the east preliminaries. The mark puts her in the top 10 fastest times run in the world this year. 

10. Dylan Lafond Rises From D2, Makes NCAA D1 Final in Steeplechase

Former University of Mount Olive Standout Dylan Lafond fought his way to an NCAA D1 Finals berth in the men’s steeplechase after finishing third in heat two to automatically advance to Eugene. Since transferring from the D2 ranks, Lafond has earned a runner-up finish at the Big 10 Championships and now a chance at a D1 All American honor. Lafond ran 8:44 Friday night in Austin, which stands as a new personal best and marks his first time qualifying to the NCAA D1 Outdoor Championships.