Track and Field Qualifies 13 in 14 Events at NCAA West Regional First Round

Utah State [University] track and field is sending eight men and five women athletes in 14 events to the NCAA Championship West Region Preliminary First Round, in Eugene, Ore., Thursday-Saturday, May 26-28. Qualifiers were announced Thursday, May 19. Athletes qualified based on marks set this season.

The USU men are coming off their third-straight Western Athletic Conference outdoor championship last weekend, while the Aggie women finished second, which is the highest they have finished since 2001 when they took second in the Big West.

"We are grateful that we got as many athletes as we did into the NCAA first round meet," said Aggie veteran head coach Gregg Gensel. "It is exciting for them and they are very deserving for the hard work they have put in. For those who are seniors, this is a great chance to go out and compete one more time. For those who are returning, it proves how hard they work and the quality of athletes that we have here at Utah State."

Leading the way for Utah State men is senior high jumper Clint Silcock who sits at No. 6 in the region with a leap of 2.19m (7-02.25) from the BYU Twilight Invitational May 4. Junior Joe Canavan is the next highest USU athlete at No. 15 in the shot put when he threw 17.93m (58-10.00) at the Utah State Mark Faldmo Invitational April 16, while senior Jason Holt ranks at No.16 in the 800m with his WAC Championship time of 1:48.78. Holt remains undefeated in the 800m this season.

Senior Armahd Lewis has the No. 19 spot in the 100m with his 10.41 time from the Cal Brutus Hamilton Invitational April 23, along with sophomore Silas Pimentel at No. 42 in the same event with a time of 10.51 from the Sacramento State Mondo Invitational April 9. Pimentel also ranks at No. 47 in the 200m with his 21.27 time at the Idaho-Utah Border Clash April 30.

Junior Daniel Howell has the 21st fastest time in the 3000m steeplechase when he ran 8:53.81 at the 2011 Mt. Sacs Relays April 14. Joining Howell in the same event at No. 41 is senior Steven Atkinson with his most recent time at the 2011 WAC Outdoor Championships of 9:02.04. Senior Eric Larson is the final male Aggie to qualify for the Regional Preliminaries as he sits at No. 31 in the 1500m with a time of 3:45.79 which is a converted time from when he ran the mile at the Cal Brutus Hamilton Invitational April 23 in 4:03.85. Larson also remains undefeated on the season in the 1500m.

The Utah State women are led by junior distance runner Ruth Hilton at No. 34 in the 3000m steeplechase with a time of 10:37.17 from the 2011 Mt. Sacs Relay April 14 and freshman Kylie Hirschi in the 400m hurdles with her time of 1:00.04 from the Cal Brutus Hamilton Invitational April 23. Two USU women sit at No. 46 in their event in junior Kim Quinn in the 5000m with her school record time of 16:43.51 from the Sacramento State Mondo Invitational April 9 and senior Shannon Prince in the discus with a toss of 48.70m (158-09) also from the Cal Brutus Hamiliton Invitational. Senior Ashlee Cannon rounds out the qualifying Aggies sitting at No. 47 in the 100m hurdles with a time of 13.83 which she also ran at the Cal Brutus Hamilton Invitational.

The 2011 NCAA Championship West Region Preliminary Round is hosted by the University of Oregon at the Historic Hayward Field.

Athletes qualifying for the National Championships will compete at the 2011 NCAA Division I Men's and Women's Outdoor Track & Field Championships, June 8-11, at Drake Stadium in Des Moines, Iowa.

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NCAA 2011 West Regional Qualifiers

Utah State

Men

Women

Additional Aggie sports news is available at the Athletics website.

Contact: Travis Hansen, Athletic Media Relations, Track and Field/Cross Country, (435) 797-8584, travis.hansen@aggiemail.usu.edu