Utah Track, Field Advance Two Athletes To NCAA Championships
May 29, 2022, 10:32 AM
(Photo courtesy of the University of Utah)
(Photo courtesy of the University of Utah)
SALT LAKE CITY- For the first time since 2012, Utah track and field have advanced two athletes to the NCAA Championship at Hayward Field on June 9 and 11. Cara Woolnough and Josefine Eriksen punched their tickets to represent the Utes late Saturday at the John McDonall Fieldhouse during the regional round.
The Utes did their best Utes impression and absolutely crushed the NCAA Preliminary round. With the big dance in 2 weeks, we ride the high from this weekend into Eugene!!
Cannot. Wait. 😈😈#goutes #utahtfxc pic.twitter.com/2fiohpFv45
— Utah T&F/XC (@Utah_trackfield) May 29, 2022
A Long Decade
It has been a long time since the Utes have had multiple representatives in the NCAA Championship for track and field. The last time Utah had at least two competitors the Olympics were heading to London and the Amazing Spider-Man was a new movie. Utah was also just a year into their new adventure with the Pac-12 Conference.
The last duo to make it to the NCAA’s for Utah was Brianna LeRoy (high jump) and Amanda Mergaert (1500m). LeRoy would finish the season at 22 in country for her event, while Mergaert came up just shy of making the finals.
Back To The Future
In two weeks Woolnough and Eriksen will be competing in Eugene, Oregon with the best of the best in all of college athletics.
Eriksen earned her place at NCAA’s by taking second place in her heat and third overall while breaking a a school record run in the process. Eriksen posted a 2:02.49 that broke Rosalie Waller’s record of 2:03.27 from 2014.
TICKET PUNCHED!
Oh.. and a SCHOOL RECORD as a cherry on top?!
Josefine Eriksen runs 2:02.49 to secure her flight to the NCAA finals AND sets a new Utah School Record! That’s been in place since 2014!!!
Onto the next!!! #goutes #utahtfxc pic.twitter.com/PDXr48akwG
— Utah T&F/XC (@Utah_trackfield) May 29, 2022
Next, Woolnough punched her ticket in blazing fashion by taking second place in the 5000m run with a mark of 15:50.80. Abby Nichols of Colorado went on to earn first place in the event giving the Pac-12 the top two spots.
TICKET PUNCHED!!
Cara Woolnough with the STRONG performance in the Preliminary round of the women’s 5000 meters and securing her spot at the NCAA Championship! 15:50.80 and a second overall finish at the meet!
Hello, Eugene! #goutes #utahtfxc pic.twitter.com/f8BVPdKjhE
— Utah T&F/XC (@Utah_trackfield) May 29, 2022
Just Shy
Utah was close to having a few other athletes qualify for the NCAA Championships Saturday. Simone Plourde came up just three seconds short in the 1500m and Skyler Blair’s season ended in the quarterfinals for hurdles. The Utes’ 4X400m relay team also came up short with a 3:43.14 finish.
