May 30, 2015
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — The University of Notre Dame track & field program saw 10 student-athletes in four events advance to the NCAA Outdoor Championships to close out a successful run at the NCAA East Preliminary Championships at Hodges Stadium at the University of North Florida.
Two individuals and two relay squads booked their flights to the NCAA DI Outdoor Championships, held June 10-13 at Hayward Field in Eugene, Oregon. Of the relay contingents, one Irish man and one woman had already qualified for the national meet as individuals, while the Irish men’s 4×400-meter relay squad set a new Irish mark en route to the national competition.
Senior Jade Barber kicked off the day for the women in the 100-meter hurdles, moving on to the NCAA Outdoor Championships for the first time since 2013 with a fourth-place overall showing and second in the first heat (13.00 seconds). She will look to add to her seven All-America honors in two weeks in Eugene.
The Irish women’s 4×400-meter relay team, consisting of Parker English, Amber Lalla, Jordan Shead and Margaret Bamgbose, managed to hold onto a qualifying slot to nationals, finishing fourth in heat 1, but eighth overall and tops among the three non-automatic qualifiers, with a time of 3:31.44. Bamgbose, who will also compete in the open 400 meters at the national meet, turned in an anchor leg of 50.06 seconds to help the Irish punch their ticket.
For the men, the 4×400-meter relay team of Chris Giesting, Eric Ways, Harvey Smith and Alex Groesch finished third in their heat Saturday to punch their ticket to the finals with a school-record time of 3:05.70. Giesting anchored the race with a split of 44.61 to help the Irish advance. The quartet will join junior Michael Clevenger, who ran his way to his first NCAA Outdoor Championships, finishing sixth overall and third in the first heat of the 5,000 meters, as well as Giesting (400 meters) and sophomore Nathan Richartz (pole vault), who qualified for the national meet on Friday.
The women’s 4×100-meter relay team of Kaila Barber, Jade Barber, Parker English and Margaret Bamgbose did not advance to the national meet, finishing 14th overall and fourth in their heat in a time of 44.51. The top three in each heat, plus the next three fastest times advanced.
Senior Mary Esther Gourdin also saw her season end in the triple jump, falling just shy of her season best of 12.70 meters in a 15th-place finish with a jump of 12.69 meters. Junior Danielle Aragon also completed the season with a 23rd-place finish in the quarterfinals of the 1,500 meters, finishing in 4:33.35.
A total of 13 Irish student-athletes across nine events will compete at next month’s national competition. Those who have advanced to the national meet will compete again June 10-13 at Hayward Field at the University of Oregon.
To keep up with all things Irish track & field, follow @NDXCTF on Twitter and like Notre Dame Cross Country/Track & Field on Facebook.
NCAA Division I Outdoor Track & Field Championships
East Preliminary
May 28-30
Jacksonville, Florida
SATURDAY
Women
1,500 meters – quarterfinal (top five in heat + next two advance to national semifinal)
23. Danielle Aragon, 4:33.35 (12th, heat 2)
100-meter hurdles – quarterfinal (top three in heat + next three advance to national semifinal)
4. Jade Barber, 13.00 Q (second, heat 1)
4×100-meter relay – semifinal (top three in heat + next three advance to final)
14. Notre Dame, 44.51
Kaila Barber, Jade Barber, Parker English, Margaret Bamgbose
4×400-meter relay – semifinal (top three in heat + next three advance to final)
10. Notre Dame, 3:31.44 Q (fourth, heat 1; top additional time)
Parker English, Amber Lalla, Jordan Shead, Margaret Bamgbose
Triple Jump – semifinal (top 12 advance to national final)
15. Mary Esther Gourdin, 12.69m
Men
5,000 meters – semifinal (top five in heat + next two advance to final)
6. Michael Clevenger, 13:58.46 Q (third, heat 1)
4×400-meter relay – semifinal (top three in heat + next three advance to final)
9. Notre Dame, 3:05.70* Q (third, heat 1)
Eric Ways, Harvey Smith, Alex Groesch, Chris Giesting
* – Notre Dame record
FRIDAY
Women
200 meters – first round (top three in heat + next six advance to quarterfinal)
Parker English, DNF
400 meters – quarterfinal (top three in heat + next three advance to national semifinal)
3. Margaret Bamgbose, 51.37* Q (first, heat 3)
19. Amber Lalla, 53.25 (seventh, heat 3)
100-meter hurdles – first round (top three in heat + next six advance to quarters)
4. Jade Barber, 13.05 Q (first, heat 5)
* – Notre Dame record
Men
400 meters – quarterfinal (top three in heat + next three advance to national semifinal)
4. Chris Giesting, 45.66 Q (second, heat 1)
Pole Vault – semifinal (top 12 advance to national final)
11. Nathan Richartz, 5.35m Q
Discus – semifinal (top 12 advance to national final)
21. Dominick Padovano, 54.40m
Javelin – semifinal (top 12 advance to national final)
42. Greg Bombara, 57.11m
THURSDAY
Women
400 meters – first round (top three in heat + next six advance to quarters)
4. Margaret Bamgbose, 52.13 Q (first, heat 6)
19. Amber Lalla, 53.24 Q (third, heat 4)
1,500 meters – first round (top five in heat + next four advance to quarters)
26. Danielle Aragon, 4:25.33 Q (fourth, heat 3)
10,000 meters – semifinal (top 12 advance to national final)
1. Molly Seidel, 33:38.38 Q
Shot Put – semifinal (top 12 advance to national final)
12. Emily Morris, 15.83 Q
Men
400 meters – first round (top three in heat + next six advance to quarters)
5. Chris Giesting, 46.07 Q (first, heat 4)
10,000 meters – semifinal (top 12 advance to national final)
32. Jake Kildoo, 31:07.45
Joanne Norell, Media Relations Assistant
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