EUGENE, Ore. – Junior Mike Arnold has advanced to the next round of the pole vault in the NCAA Outdoor Track and Field Championship with his third-place finish in the first round. Arnold will travel to Des Moines, Iowa June 8-11 at Drake Stadium to compete in the next round.
Arnold cleared a height of 17-00.75 for third place. Brigham Young's Chris Little and Victor Weirich tied for first place in the event with the same height. This is the first time Arnold has advanced to the final rounds of the NCAA Outdoor Track and Field Championship.
“Mike did a fantastic job given the poor weather conditions,” ISU Head Coach Dave Nielsen said. “His initial height to get in was not that impressive because of the weather but he did a really excellent job competing.”
Freshman Hayli Worthington also competed today in the 400-meter hurdles. Worthington did not advance to the next round as she finished 43rd overall with a time of 1:01.88. The time did however qualify her for the National Junior Championships.
“Hayli ran a very respectable time,” Nielsen said. “She did just a fantastic job for a freshman competing at this level for the first time. I am very proud of her.”
Arnold's teammates Erica Wendt-Richardson, Sasha Buylova, Ryan Davis and Bryce Jenkins all compete tomorrow in their respective events to try to advance to Drake as well.
Live results for the NCAA West Preliminary Rounds are available at http://www.flashresults.com/2011_Meets/outdoor/05-26-NCAAWest/Day1.htm?SPSID=4364&SPID=243&DB_LANG=C&DB_OEM_ID=500.
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