AUSTIN, Texas – The UCLA track & field team qualified four to the NCAA National Championships and had numerous personal bests set on day two of the NCAA West Prelims, Friday at Mike A. Myers Stadium.
Senior Alec Faldermeyer was the first on day two to punch his ticket to the NCAA meet. Faldermeyer had his first throw of 208-5 hold up to finish 11th overall to move on to the national championships for the fourth time in his career.
Junior Nicholas Scarvelis will make his second straight trip to the national meet as he earned runner-up honors in the shot put with a throw of 64-3.75.
Just minutes later Nick Hartle also secured his second straight trip to Eugene. Hartle finished 11th in the 800m with a time of 1:48.79.
The high jump concluded the evening with Zibby Boyer holding on to qualify for nationals for the second straight year. Boyer cleared 5-10 but was able to advance on misses. Senior Alexis Walker just missed out, clearing the same height but finished 13th.
Freshman Misana Viltz opened the track portion of the meet for the Bruins in impressive fashion. The newcomer ran a lifetime best 13.86 (+2.8w) to place 20th overall in the 110m hurdles to extend his season to the quarterfinals tomorrow.
Junior Elena Clarke started off day two in the field with a personal best in the pole vault. Although it wasn’t enough to move on with a 16th place finish, Clarke cleared 13-7 (4.14m), just a quarter of inch from cracking the UCLA top-10 list.
Freshman Leon Powell once again blitzed the straightaway in the comforts of his home state to another personal best of 10.23 (+2.5w). The newcomer finished 13th overall, just one spot off qualifying for the national meet.
Also just missing the meet, another freshman, Braheme Days placed 13th in the shot put. Days uncorked a throw of 61-2.75 that was just a quarter of an inch off the coveted 12th and final spot.
Freshman Steele Wasik was unable to move on in the 110m hurdles with a time of 14.24. He will compete at the national meet in the decathlon.
Senior Ally Courtnall capped off her impressive season in the 800m with a time of 2:10.77. The season was her first in the grueling event.
UCLA will wrap up the prelims with 12 competitors on the final day and two relays teams. The first field event will begin at 10 a.m. PT while the track action will start at 4 p.m. PT. He