University of Washington
NCAA Outdoor Championships
Thoirs Takes Fifth, Yorks To Final In NCAA Opener
June 09, 2016 | Track & Field
NCAA OUTDOOR CHAMPIONSHIPS
Eugene, Ore. - Hayward Field - June 8-11
Complete Schedule | Live Results | Men's Heat Sheets | Women's Heat Sheets
ESPN Specific Field Event Coverage
THURSDAY - WOMEN
Broadcast: 4:30 - 5:00 pm live on ESPNU then 5:00 - 7:30 pm live on ESPN; remainder on ESPN3
4:46pm - Maxwell, Neale - 1,500m Semifinal
5:00pm - Quick - Pole Vault Final
5:02pm - Prouse - 3,000m Steeplechase Semifinal
5:32pm - Bouyer - 100m Semifinal
6:14pm - Mires - 800m Semifinal
7:08pm - Knight - 10,000m Final
FRIDAY - MEN
Broadcast: 5:30 - 8:00 pm live on ESPN
5:42pm - Yorks - 1,500m Final
7:25pm - Gilbert - 5,000m Final
SATURDAY - WOMEN
Broadcast: 3:30 - 6:00 pm live on ESPN
3:41pm - Maxwell, Neale - 1,500m Final
3:54pm - Prouse - 3,000m Steeplechase Final
4:22pm - Bouyer - 100m Final
4:47pm - Mires - 800m Final
EUGENE, Ore. – A pair of Husky seniors starred on track and field's biggest stage today, a final bow for All-American pole vaulter Jax Thoirs, and a big run from Izaic Yorks that earned him another race in two days in the 1,500-meter final. The two efforts were the big highlights for the Dawgs on day one of the NCAA Outdoor Championships, hosted by Oregon at Hayward Field.
For the second year in a row, the meet is split between genders, with the men going today, the women starting on Thursday, the men wrapping up on Friday and the women closing things out on Saturday.
Thoirs, the three-time Pac-12 Champion and Scottish National Record-holder, closed out his Husky collegiate career with his best ever NCAA Outdoor finish. Though he was unable to get a second NCAA title to go with the one he captured indoors in March, Thoirs still showed his typical strength and grit, as he got up and over 17-feet, 10.50-inches on his third and final attempt to climb up the podium.
Thoirs had a great attempt at 18-2 ½ which only two men made, but caught too much of the bar going over on his second attempt. Still, he finishes as a five-time All-American, with four First Team honors to his credit. The fifth-place finish today was the best by a Husky men's vaulter outdoors since Scott Roth won the 2011 title, and earned four points towards the Husky team score.
The first track even today was the men's 1,500-meter semifinals. In the first semifinal, junior Blake Nelson got his first individual action at nationals. The pace was set very slow, and despite a strong final kick, Nelson had to settle for 10th in the twelve man field in 3:52.15, with the winning time being 3:49.03.
Izaic Yorks leading his 1,500m semifinal into the final lap
In the second semifinal, Yorks and the rest of the field would not hold back on the pace. Yorks and Virginia's Henry Wynne took turns leading, with Yorks leading going into the final laps. Keeping an eye on his spot within the pack, Yorks kept right behind Wynne and finished second in 3:40.87, easily on to the final for the second year in a row, but without the drama of last season, when Yorks was knocked down and advanced on an impediment ruling, but hurt his foot in the process.
Yorks will go for his first NCAA title on Friday at 5:42 p.m. live on ESPN.
Three more Husky All-American seniors had their careers come to a close today, as Aaron Nelson, Quinn Hale, and Tyler King wore the “W” singlets for the final time.
Two-time Pac-12 steeplechase champion Aaron Nelson struggled today after consecutive outstanding efforts at Pac-12s and West Prelims. He finished 12th in his semifinal heat in 9:03.33, while sophomore Andrew Gardner finished ninth in the same heat and 17th overall in 8:48.79 in his NCAA debut. Both will earn All-America honorable mentions for the finishes. Nelson finishes third in UW history in the steeplechase and 5,000-meters, second in the 10,000-meters, and he's the indoor school record-holder at 5,000-meters. For Gardner, the future looks bright, as he ran his third straight sub-8:50 steeple to close the season.
Andrew Gardner and Aaron Nelson in the 3,000m steeple semis at Hayward.
Hale and Carson Fuller took on what turned out to be one of the deepest NCAA javelin fields in years. Fuller opened with a toss of 230-4, his first toss over 70-meters since the Pepsi Team Invite at Hayward in April. On Hale's second attempt, he threw 228-2, a season-best by over three feet. But as the competition wore on, it became clear that those would likely not be enough to make the top-nine for a final three throws. Neither were able to improve in round three, and after the next flight was finished, Fuller's mark was 15th overall and Hale's was 18th. Just one year ago, those marks would have placed them eighth and 11th.
Incredibly, only seven inches separated 10th-place from 16th-place today. Still, it was Fuller's best NCAA Outdoor finish in three trips, and will earn him Second Team All-America honors. Fuller is expected to return for a fifth season in 2017. Hale will be an honorable mention, wrapping a stellar career that saw him battle back this season from injury and fight through a troublesome elbow while still throwing three straight season-bests at Pac-12s, West Prelims, and NCAAs.
Carson Fuller launches the javelin while Quinn Hale looks on.
Wrapping things up tonight was King in his first ever NCAA 10,000-meter final. After placing third at the Pac-12 meet and finishing ninth in the West Prelim to reach nationals, King was unable to get the third piece of the puzzle in place tonight. He was in the mix around a third of the way through the 25 laps, but slipped off the pace of the main pack and couldn't find another gear. King still fought to the end, earning his first All-America honorable mention in track, with a 23rd-place finish.
Tomorrow the women get their turn, with seven Huskies in action, starting with the 1,500-meter semifinals at 4:46 p.m. The event will be live on ESPNU until 5:00 then switch over to ESPN until 7:30 p.m., with remaining action seen online on ESPN3.
Washington Track & Field
NCAA Outdoor Championships
Day 1 of 4 – June 8, 2016
Eugene, Ore. – Hayward Field
Men's Results
1,500m; Semifinal 1 of 2: 10. Blake Nelson, 3:52.15 (22nd overall)
1,500m; Semifinal 2 of 2: 2. Izaic Yorks, 3:40.87 (Advances to final)
10,000m Final: 23. Tyler King, 32:13.48.
3,000m Steeplechase; Semifinal 1 of 2: 9. Andrew Gardner, 8:48.79 (17th overall); 12. Aaron Nelson, 9:03.33 (24th overall).
Pole Vault Final: 5. Jax Thoirs, 17-10 ½
Javelin Final: 15. Carson Fuller, 230-4; 18. Quinn Hale, 228-2.
Players Mentioned
