Harper Earns All-American Honors With Third-Place Finish in 100m Hurdles
After three days (the final day is Saturday), UCLA, the defending NCAA Outdoor women's team championship, is in fourth-place, with 16 points. The top five teams are - 1. Texas 31, 2. Tennessee 28, 3. USC 18, 4. UCLA 16, 5. Colorado 14.
In the discus, Warren, who won the event at the Pac-10 and was the No. 7 seed (183-3) coming into the championships, placed third in the discus final with a mark of 178-2. She earned her first All-American honor and picked up six team points for the Bruins.
"It's awesome to earn my first All-American honor," said Warren. "It was my goal to come here and place in the top three. Physically I haven't felt great all week, but I wasn't going to let anything distract me -I didn't let the rain bother me on Wednesday and the heat didn't bother me today. Winning the Pac-10 was a magic spark for me and I've been using that spark ever since."
Harper, who placed third at the NCAA Indoor in the 60m hurdles, finished third today in the 100m hurdles, in a time of 12.91 (-0.6w, tying her personal best). She earns her fifth All-American honor and picks up six team points for the Bruins.
Henderson, who came into the championships as the No. 1 seed in the 400m (50.78), won semi-final heat two in a time of 51.28, the top mark of the day, advancing into Saturday's final.
"I felt good, I wanted to improve my time from the prelims (51.56)," said Henderson, who won the 200m/400m at both the NCAA West Region and Pac-10 meets. "But I didn't want to push it, tomorrow is a big race." When asked what it will take to win tomorrow's 400m final - Henderson replied - "I don't know, something fast, I can't predict that. The win is the ultimate goal."
After the first day of the heptathlon, Bruin sophomore Nastassja Hall is in 25th place, with 3,025 points. In the 100m hurdles, her time of 14.94(1.0w, personal-best) was 24th overall; in the high jump, her mark of 5-3 was tied for 21st-overall; in the shot put, her effort of 35-10.50 was 23rd overall and in the 200m, her time of 25.43 (-1.6w) was 17th overall. The heptathlon will conclude on Saturday with the long jump, javelin and 800m. This is Hall's first trip to the NCAA Outdoor (she's the No. 20 seed/5,362 points) and she placed fifth at the Pac-10.
In triple jump qualifying, senior Candice Baucham, who last night earned All-American status in the long jump (20-9.25), qualified for Saturday's final with a mark of 43-10.50(1.8w). Baucham was the No. 4 seed (44-6) coming into the triple jump and is a three-time triple jump All-American.
Also on Friday, the Pac-10 announced its 2005 outdoor track and field All-Academic team. The Bruins had five members - including two first-team, sophomore Jenna Timinsky (3.84, linguistics/anthro) and senior Carmen Winant-first team (3.87, art). Also on the Pac-10 All-Academic squad - second-team, junior Sarah West (3.73, psychology) and Honorable Mention selections - sophomore Leslie Barrie and senior Lara Saye.