Longhorns' Jones opens fast
Texas places two in the NCAA West women’s 400-meter quarter-finals.
Success at the NCAA West Preliminaries track and field meet is determined by survival more than victory. But winning along wit h qualifying can help to send a statement to fellow competitors.
Running fast is all part of the equation, but leaving something in the tank for the next round is important, too.
So when Texas freshman Ariel Jones blazed to a time of 58 seconds flat to win the sixth qualifying heat in the first round of the 400-meter hurdles Thursday at Mike A. Myers Stadium, it was impressive for its result as well as for the expectation of what Jones can still
bring to the track once she’s fully revved up.
Jones’ time was just 13-hundredths of second off the clocking she posted to win the Big 12 meet this month and the thirdbest in the first round, granting her an automatic berth in Friday’s quarterfinals. The top 12 times in the quarterfinals will earn berths at the national championships, to be held June 10-13 in Eugene, Ore.
“I felt good about my run even though I was not trying super hard,” Jones said. “I’m definitely not going to kill myself (in the first round). I concentrate on a good start, and because it’s the 400, you have time to adjust during the race. I felt like I was in control all the way around and I know I have a lot more to give (Friday).”
Jones will be joined in the 400 hurdles quarterfinals by top qualifier Nnenya Hailey of Arizona State (56.90), second qualifier Amalie Iuel of USC (57.57), Texas A&M’s Shamier Little (59.09) and the Longhorns’ Melissa Gonzales (59.16) among the 24 athletes who earned berths. There was a spread of 3.41 seconds between the top and final qualifier.
Gonzales was second in her heat (the second of six) to assure herself an automatic berth in Fri- day’s quarterfinals.
“I wanted to get the automatic spot and I did, but I could have done better,” Gonzales said. “We have more than 24 hours to recover, so you want to give it your all. Just getting through is so important. I feel good about my chances of getting past this meet and helping the team in Eugene. “
While athletes in all but the longest running events competed in heats to qualify for the quarterfinals, those in field events earned spots directly into the national championship field.
Among those to punch tickets to Eugene on Thursday were men’s discus winner Kole Weldon of Texas Tech as well as Ryan Crouser and Clint Harris from Texas and Dalton Rowan from Texas A&M. Others included Allie Saunders of Texas State in the women’s long jump and Hillary Montgomery from Texas A&M in the women’s 10,000 meters.
Other Texas and area athletes to advance the quarterfinals included Greg Coleman of Texas A&M in the men’s 400-meter hurdles; Mo- rolake Akinosun and Caitland Smith of Texas and Jennifer Madu, Aaliyah Brown and Ashton Purvis of Texas A&M in the women’s 100-meter dash; Senoj-Jay Givans and Charles Anumnu of Texas and Shavez Hart and Devin Jenkins of Texas A&M in the men’s 100meter dash; Ashley Spencer and Kendall Baisden of Texas in the women’s 400-meter dash; Zack Bilderback and Carlton Anumnu of Texas and Deon Lendore and Bralon Taplin of Texas A&M in the men’s 400-meter dash; and Josh Hernandez and Hector Hernandez of Texas A&M and DeQuad Binder of Texas State in the men’s 800-meter run.