AUSTIN, Texas – Drake University junior and reigning Missouri Valley Conference champion Mary Young (Urbandale, Iowa) advanced to the quarterfinals of the women's 100-meter hurdles on Friday afternoon at the NCAA Track & Field West Preliminary.
Young ran in the fastest of six heats of the event and while her time of 13.43 was the fifth-fastest in her heat, it was the 17th fastest overall time to advance her to Saturday's quarterfinal. The top three finishers in each of those three quarterfinal heats and the next three fastest times will advance to next month's NCAA Outdoor Track & Field Championships in Eugene, Ore. Young's performance on Friday came just two weeks after she clocked a wind-aided time of 13.14 to win the MVC title in the event.
Later in the day, senior Bas Van Leersum (Zaandam, The Netherlands) attempted to qualify for the NCAA Championships as well in his quarterfinal heat of the men's 400-meter hurdles. The two-time all-MVC performer finished sixth in his heat and 21st overall to miss advancing to the NCAA Championships.
Young will attempt to become the second Bulldog to move on to Eugene when the quarterfinals of the 100-meter hurdles begin at 7:05 p.m. On Thursday evening, Reed Fischer (Minnetonka, Minn.) qualified for the NCAA Championships in the 10,000 meters with an eighth-place finish.
Fischer will also return to the oval on Saturday evening to attempt to qualify in the 5,000 meters at 8:45 p.m. Earlier in the evening, Taryn Rolle (Nassau, The Bahamas) will compete in the women's triple jump at 6 p.m.
