Texas Tech University Athletics
Texas Tech Athletics
NCAA West Preliminary Round
Tech Sends Seven To Eugene On Day One In Austin
May 28, 2015 | Track and Field
May 28, 2015
On a day of running event prelims in Austin, Texas, seven field event athletes carried the day for the Red Raiders, earning berths in the NCAA Championships.
Leading the way, as they have all year, were JaCorian Duffield and Bradley Adkins in the high jump. Each cleared 2.20m/7-2.5 to guarantee qualification. However, another Red Raider stole the show.After missing three times at 2.20m/7-2.5, freshman Trey Culver, who had already cleared a personal-best 2.17m/7-1.5, was tied for 12th and entered a jump-off with an athlete from Iowa State, with an NCAA berth on the line.
The jump-off started at 2.20m/7-2.5. After an Iowa State miss, Culver got his second PR of the night, flying over the bar to send the Texas Tech contingent into a frenzy.
"Trey made a huge step in his competitive career," Texas Tech assistant coach James Thomas said. "Clearing two personal-best bars is one thing, but doing it under the extreme pressure this meet brings is another. This freshman has shown a level of consistency and competitiveness that makes me proud he is wearing red and black."
Kole Weldon won the West Regional title in the discus, with a huge, season-best throw of 59.78m/196-1 on his final attempt, a throw that won by nearly seven feet. Weldon defeated Texas' Ryan Crouser, who he lost to at Big 12 Outdoors, in the process. The men's discus and men's long jump were delayed by lightning strikes and rain for about two hours, before resuming in muggy conditions.
In the men's long jump, Jerome Wilson entered the competition ranked 28th in the region, but had a monstrous season-best leap of 7.78m/25-6.25 on his second attempt to take 12th, and advance to the NCAA final.
Le'Tristan Pledger (6.33m/20-9.25) and Gionna Jackson (6.28m/20-7.25) each jumped season bests (PR for Jackson) to take seventh and eighth, respectively, and advance to Eugene. Both will have chances to qualify again this weekend, as Pledger will compete in the 100m hurdles, and Jackson will go in the triple jump.
Cierra White moved on to tomorrow's 100m dash quarterfinal, running an 11.33, and Montene Speight moved on to the 400m dash quarters, with a time of 53.48.
Both JW Smith (51.91) and Darien Tennon (52.06) earned qualifications into tomorrow's 400m hurdles quarterfinal, where berths in the NCAA Championship will be on the line.
"I'm so proud of these kids," Texas Tech head coach Wes Kittley said. "Kole looked great winning the discus, our long jumpers were phenomenal and our high jumpers ... wow. To get all three of them in was spectacular. The way Trey qualified, you just don't see that. It was remarkable. I'm proud of Montene and Cierra, along with our 400 meter hurdlers for getting through to tomorrow's quarterfinals as well. It was a tough day with the delays, but the kids fought and that's all you can ask for.
Action continues for Texas Tech track & field tomorrow at the NCAA West Preliminaries, with field events starting at noon, and running events beginning at five.
TRK: CULVER CLEARS! Back to back PR's! He's going to Oregon! #WreckEm #NCAAD1W pic.twitter.com/xEW3rnzc2p
-- Blake Zimmerman (@BlakeZ_TTU) May 29, 2015
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