Princeton University Athletics
Princeton University
NCAA Championships
Four to Compete at NCAA Track & Field Championships
June 05, 2018 | Men's Track and Field, Women's Track and Field
Women's Start List l Men's Start List l Full Schedule (.pdf)
How to Watch l Live Results
PRINCETON, N.J. (6/5/18) - Four Tigers will compete this week at the 2018 NCAA Outdoor Track & Field Championships in Eugene, Ore., at Historic Hayward Field. Princeton is the only Ivy League school to have qualifiers from both the men and women's programs.
Senior William Paulson makes his second consecutive appearance in the 1500 meters. Paulson qualified by finishing in the top five in his quarterfinal race in Tampa on May 26. The Ivy Heps champion in the event, Paulson owns a PR of 3:39.51 from the Swarthmore meet on May 14. Because this meet was held after qualifying times for the NCAA, his time is not counted in the national descending order list.
Of the 24 competitors, Paulson is one of five that is returning from last year. Last year's national champion Josh Kerr (New Mexico) looks to defend his title and enters the weekend with the best time on the season at 3:35.01. Also back is last year's runner up Justine Kiprotich (Michigan State). Robert Domanic (Ole Miss), Sam Prakel (Oregon) and Oliver Hoare (Wisconsin) will be contenders as well as all have run rub 3:38 this year. Paulson, along with Kerr and Domanic, will be in the second heat of the 1500 at 4:46 p.m., PT on Wednesday, June 7 that will air live on ESPN2. The top five from each of the two heats plus the next two fastest times advance to the final on Friday, June 9.
Sophomore Conor Lundy makes his debut at the NCAA Outdoor Championship qualifying in the 5k. Lundy has competed in two NCAA Cross Country Championships, as an individual freshman year and with the team this past fall. The final of the 5k will be on Friday, June 8 at 7:25 p.m., and will air live on ESPN.
Seven of last year's competitors return including national champion Grant Fisher (Stanford). Fisher has the sixth best time in the nation this year at 13:36.77, with Justyn Knight (Syracuse), who was third a year ago, leading the nation with a 13:18.74. Andy Trouard (Northern Arizona) and Dillon Maggard (Utah State) have both run under 13:31 this season. Lundy qualified by taking fourth in the second heat of the semifinals in Tampa on May 26, placing 12th overall with a 14:11.62. Third at the Ivy Heps in this event, Lundy has a season best time of 14:07.99, which is also a PR.
Junior Adam Kelly makes his return to the NCAA Championships in the hammer throw. He will be in the first of two flights. The top 9 throwers after three rounds will advance to the final for three additional throws. The hammer will be the first field event on Day 1 at 2 p.m., PT., and is expected to air on WatchESPN during its four hours of field coverage on Day 1.
A third of those from last year's championship return including champion and Olympian Rudy Winkler (Rutgers). Winkler who previously competed for Cornell ranks fourth in the nation this year behind the leader Gleb Dudarev (Kansas) who has a 78.04 and was third a year ago. Denzel Comenentia (Georgia) and Anders Eriksson (Florida) are ranked 2-3 in the nation at 76.29 and 74.19. Kelly competed in this event as a freshman and finished 14th with a 65.82. Originally qualifying last year but pushed out of the top 12 in the East due to coach's challenges, Kelly won both the Ivy Heps and the IC4A hammer throw this year. His season best is also a PR with a 71.92.
Making her debut in the discus is freshman Obiageri Amaechi. She will throw in the second flight on Saturday, June 9 at 3:05 p.m. PT. The top 9 throwers after three rounds will advance to the final for three additional throws. WatchESPN will provide coverage at 11:30 a.m., while ESPN picks up the feed at 3:30.
Four of the last year's top nine return and are all in the same flight as Amaechi. Shadae Lawrence (Kansas State) won the title last year as a sophomore, while Maggie Ewen (Arizona State) was the runner-up. Last year's fifth and seventh place finishers Gabi Jacobs (Missouri) and Laulauga Tausaga (Iowa) return as well. Ewen has the best throw in the nation this season with a 61.27, while Lawrence is second with a 61.08 – the only two over 61 meters. Amaechi was third at the NCAA East Regionals. She re-set the Princeton record five times this season, outdoing herself every single meet during the regular season and has a PR of 55.92. The Ivy Heps runner-up and ECAC Champion owns the second best mark ever in the Ivy League, just four inches shy of the record.
Players Mentioned
