Princeton University Athletics
Players Mentioned
Bragg & Kelly Heading to Eugene; Four Advance
May 27, 2016 | Men's Track and Field
Results
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. (5/26/16) - Four Tigers advanced on the first day of the 2016 NCAA Outdoor Track & Field Championships. Freshman Adam Kelly and senior Adam Bragg advanced directly to the finals in Eugene, Oregon.
Kelly got the day started on a high note as he qualified in the hammer throw by finishing 12th with a throw of 65.41 (214-7). Throwing in flight 3, Kelly knew exactly what he needed to do to make that top group of 12 and began with a 62.29 (204-4) before his big toss on his second attempt. He wouldn't improve on this third throw 64.16 (210-60, but wouldn't have to.
Bragg makes his second trip to the NCAA Championships in the pole vault. He was 12th in the event in 2014. He finished fourth overall today. He passed on the first two heights before clearing 5.15 on his third and final attempt. He made it over 5.25 on his second attempt. As the bar got higher, Bragg made it look easier, clearing 5.30 (17-4.50) on his first try.
Sophomore August Kiles matched his PR of 5.25 in the pole vault and was just two places out of qualifying for the finals. He cleared 5.00, 5.15 and 5.25 on his second attempt at each height but wouldn't make it over the 5.30 mark to finish 14th overall. Only 11 vaulters would clear the final height of 5.30, with the final qualifying spot being awarded based on attempts.
Sophomores Noah Kauppila and Garrett O'Toole both advanced to the quarterfinals of the 1500. That race will take place on Saturday at 6:45 p.m. Kauppila was in heat 1 and finished seventh at 3:45.49 (split times: 46.62, 1:02.86, 58.71, 57.32). With the top five advancing from each heat plus the next four fastest times, it was a wait-and-see situation for Kauppila for the next 20 minutes. He remained in on time after heats 2 and 3 before it was time for the final heat, O'Toole's heat. O'Toole was 11th after 300 meters at 45.04 but had the next fastest split at 1:04.06 to move into eighth place. A lap later he was in fifth place with the second-fastest split of 1:00.11. He kicked out a 56.30 in the final 400 to take third to automatically qualify for the quarterfinal at 3:45.07. Kauppila finished with the 12th fastest time on the day, and was the second to advance on time to the quarters.
Junior Greg Leeper, the Ivy League 400 hurdles champion ended his season in the Regionals. He was seventh in heat 1 and 38th overall at 53.07.
Junior Ray Mennin and senior Michael Sublette both had rough days in their respective events. Mennin pulled up with 100 meters remaining in the 400, while Sublette dropped out of the 10k after 6800 meters (17 laps) – one of six that left the race.
Day 2 begins with Mitchel Charles throwing the discus at 4 p.m., Friday afternoon.