Air Force Academy
NCAA West Preliminary
Kathryn Tomczak Punches Ticket to NCAA Finals
5/25/2017 12:00:00 AM | Track and Field
Results | NCAA West Preliminary, Thursday 
AUSTIN, Texas – With an Academy-record clearance of 14'1¼", Air Force sophomore Kathryn Tomczak punched the Falcons' first ticket to next month's NCAA Outdoor Track and Field Championships, as the West Preliminary kicked off today (May 25) in Austin, Texas.
Tomczak, who passed on the meet's opening bar, was a perfect three-for-three on first attempt clearances during the next three heights (12'11½", 13'5¼", 13'9¼"), despite the day's windy conditions. After exiting the competition with three misses at 14'1¼", Tomczak was part of a three-way tie for 11th. With only the top 12 finishers advancing to the finals in Eugene, the three tied vaulters moved into a "jump-off" and received one more attempt at the 14'1¼" height. Tomczak easily cleared the bar on her first attempt – earning a spot into the finals and becoming the first 14-foot vaulter in Academy history.
In addition to breaking her own program standard in the pole vault, Tomczak was one of 11 vaulters to better the previous West Prelim record of 13'11".
Senior Taylor Hulslander paced a trio of Air Force vaulters in the javelin, as he posted a distance of 214'4" to finish 16th in the 48-thrower field. Hulslander, who fouled his first attempt and threw a 201'7" on his second, added nearly 13 feet on his final throw to move up nine places in the standings. Junior Donny Crabill posted a 206'11" to finish 23rd, while senior Eric Hoff placed 43rd with a toss of 185'4".
Junior Andrew Johnston clocked a time of 30:11.80 to finish 14th in the men's 10,000-meter run, while senior Kyle Eller placed 28th in a time of 30:51.47. Fellow senior Lindy Long registered a top-20 placement in the women's 10K race (19th, 35:40.55), while sophomore Jaci Smith clocked a time of 36:55.08 to finish 36th.
Several first-round races were also contested today at Mike A. Myers Stadium, with the Falcons advancing a pair of runners into the quarterfinals later this weekend. Sophomore Sedacy Walden earned an automatic spot in the quarterfinals of the 400-meter dash after clocking 46.69 to place third in his heat (19th overall) and senior Matt Dorsey posted a time of 3:59.38 to finish fifth in his heat of the 1500-meter run (33rd overall) and earn an automatic bid into the quarterfinal round.
Freshman Michael Rhoads narrowly missed a spot in the quarterfinals of the 800-meter run, as his time of 1:51.36 was just 0.23 seconds shy of the last advancing spot (tied for 22nd overall). Rhoads, who finished fifth in the first of six first-round heats, held onto a qualifying time until the final heat.
Junior Tyler Koss joined Walden in the opening round of the men's 400-meter dash, finishing seventh in his heat, and 36th overall, with a time of 47.57. Senior Zach Johnson placed sixth in his heat of the 100-meter dash (wind-aided 10.40, 37th overall), while junior Chip White finished eighth in his heat of the 400-meter hurdles (46th overall) with a time of 54.57.
On the women's side, juniors Carina Gillespie and Giulianna Vessa finished within the top-25 of the 1500-meter round. Gillespie clocked a time of 4:28.90 to finish ninth her heat and 19th overall, while Vessa ran a 4:31.82 to finish eighth in her heat and 24th overall. Freshman Megan Irvine, competing in the 400-meter dash, clocked a time of 54.22 to finish seventh in her heat and 27th overall.
The West Preliminary of the NCAA Outdoor Track and Field Championships continue tomorrow (May 25) in Austin, Texas. Air Force kicks off the day at noon with the women's discus throw and men's pole vault.
Players Mentioned
