USU’s Strickland places 3rd, qualifies for NCAA track tourney
EUGENE, Ore. – Junior Tiffany Strickland was Utah State’s highest finisher on day two of the NCAA Regional Track and Field Championships here Saturday, placing third in the 3,000 meter steeplechase. Overall, USU’s women finished in 13th-place in the regional meet with 14 points, while the Aggie men finished in 22nd-place with two points. Strickland’s time of 10:21.20 in the 3,000 meter steeplechase automatically qualifies her for the NCAA Championships which will be held in Sacramento, Calif., from June 8-11. That time is also a new school record for Strickland. Other Aggie women competing on Saturday included Katie Thatcher who finished sixth in the 400 meter hurdles (1:00.67), Amber Judd who was eighth in the 400 meter hurdles (1:02.49), Stacie Lifferth who placed seventh in the 3,000 meter steeplechase (10:28.63), Amy Egan who placed 12th in the 1,500 meters (4:34.70), and Carrie Yost who competed in the high jump but did not clear the starting height. Utah State also had two men competing on Saturday as Justin Wickard finished in eighth-place in the 110 meter hurdles (14.48), while Steve Strickland finished in 16th-place in the 3,000 meter steeplechase (9:07.79). Utah State could have several other individuals qualify for the NCAA Championships with at-large berths as athletes who finished sixth, seventh or eighth in their respective events at the regional championships could be selected for the NCAA Championships. Those at-large berths will be determined by season-bests and will be announced on Monday, May 30. NCAA West Regional Track and Field Championships Eugene, Ore. May 27-28, 2005 Saturday’s ResultsMen’s Finals110 Meter Hurdles – 8. Justin Wickard, 14:48 3,000 Meter Steeplechase – 16. Steve Strickland, 9:07.79 Women’s FinalsHigh Jump – Carrie Yost, No height 1,500 Meters – 12. Amy Egan, 4:34.70 400 Meter Hurdles – 6. Katie Thatcher, 1:00.67; 8. Amber Judd, 1:02.49 3,000 Meter Steeplechase – 3. Tiffany Strickland, 10:21.20; 7. Stacie Lifferth, 10:28.63 Friday’s ResultsMen’s FinalsDiscus – Zack Lloyd, Did not compete Shot Put – 9. Zack Lloyd, 56-11.25 (17.35m) 5,000 Meters – 8. Mike Nielson, 14:03.83; 9. Trever Ball, 14:11.90; 18. David Danley, 14:39.27Prelims4x100 Relay – 5. 43.32 (Young, Bush, Lovell, McNeal) 110 Meter Hurdles – 4. Justin Wickard, 14.21 100 Meters – Rod McNeal, Did not compete Women’s Finals5,000 Meters – 7. Lida Ripplinger, 16:55.02Prelims1,500 Meters – 6. Amy Egan, 4:27.34 800 Meters – 4. Jill Steele, 2:09.05 400 Meter Hurdles – 6. Katie Thatcher, 1:00.56; 7. Amber Judd, 1:01.19