AUSTIN, Texas – Drake senior Isaac Twombly (Baldwin, Kan.) has broken school records before. However, none have been as exciting as his performance in the hammer throw Saturday at the NCAA West Regional Round in Austin, Texas, en route to qualifying for NCAA Championships.
After the event was delayed an entire day due to massive storms in the Austin area on Friday, Twombly recorded a Drake school record throw of 205-03 to claim the last qualifying spot from the region.
The qualification was in doubt until the very end, however. Tyler Johnson of Arizona had an opportunity to knock Twombly's throw out of the top 12, but came up just inches short.
“His [Johnson's] throw was a big one,” Drake head coach Natasha Kaiser-Brown said. “But it was just short of Isaac's. We all held our breath until they read the distance.”
This will be the second NCAA Championship appearance of the season for Twombly. He placed 14th in the weight throw at the 2013 NCAA Indoor Track and Field Championships in March. The 2013 NCAA Outdoor Track & Field Championships will be hosted by Oregon in Eugene, Ore., June 5-8.
"I'm grateful to be going to NCAAs," Twombly said. "I was the last qualifier and I was really nervous going in to the final round of throws. This is something I've only dreamed of and now that it's a reality, I'm excited for what's ahead."
On the women's side, seniors Sarah Yeager (Ottumwa, Iowa) and Marissa Smith (Ajax, Ontario) wrapped up their impressive Drake careers by just missing qualifications for Eugene in the 100-meter hurdles.
Yeager set a new school record in the event, running a time of 13.44. She was fifth in a very fast heat and 14th overall. The top three from each heat advance along with the other top three times. Yeager missed the cut by four-hundredths of a second.
Smith, the former Drake record holder in the 100-meter hurdles, ended her illustrious career by finishing 19th in 13.61. Smith reached the same round last year before bowing out.
“Marissa and Sarah both fought hard in their races, but just missed qualifying for Oregon,” Kaiser-Brown said. “Sarah competed right at her personal best which was all you can ask.”
The pair will leave Drake having each held the school record in the event as well as winning the double championship for MVC sprint hurdle events. Smith won the 60-meter hurdles indoors and 100-meter hurdles outdoors in 2012 while Yeager completed the feat this season.
Senior Kevin Harp (Iowa City, Iowa) was 36th in the javelin throw with a toss of 196-01. Sam Humphreys of Texas A&M won the event with a throw of 268-08. Harp will end his career as the Drake record holder in the event, having thrown 214-1 at the 2013 MVC Outdoor Championships earlier this month.
Junior Brogan Austin (Boone, Iowa) qualified to compete in the 5,000 meters but did not start due to injury. His best time this season of 14:12.50 would have just missed qualification.
Full results from all events at the NCAA West Preliminary Round can be found here.
2013 NCAA West Region Preliminary Round Results
Drake Results
Men's Individuals
Hammer Throw
12. Isaac Twombly, 205-03
Javelin
36. Kevin Harp, 196-01
Women's Individuals
100-Meter Hurdles
14. Sarah Yeager, 13.44
19. Marissa Smith, 13.61
