Four Lions Punch Their Tickets To The Track And Field National Championships

Thursday, May 23

Jacksonville, Fla.

All Day

Columbia

NCAA East Prelims

Four Lions Punch Their Tickets To The Track And Field National Championships

5/25/2019 10:12:00 PM | Track and Field

Day 2/3 Results (PDF)National Championships Info

Allie Hays, Alek Sauer, Brian Zabilski and Daniel Igbokwe will all head to Austin, Texas after qualifying for the National Championships at the East Prelims.

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — Allie Hays (5,000-meter run), Brian Zabilski (5,000-meter run), Alek Sauer (800-meter run) and Daniel Igbokwe (triple jump) all reached top marks for Columbia Track and Field at the NCAA Division I Eastern Region Preliminaries to qualify four Lions for the NCAA Division I National Championships, as the East Prelims wrapped up at Hodges Stadium on the campus of North Florida.

Sauer qualified on Friday, May 24, winning his heat and finishing sixth with a time of 1:49.58, while Igbokewe (15.65m; 11th), Zabilski (14.14.96; First in heat one/12th overall) and Hays (16:19.18; 10th) each hit their qualifying marks on the final day, Saturday, May. 25. The NCAA National Championships are scheduled to begin in Austin, Texas on Wednesday, June 5 and run until Saturday, June 8.

Make it 4️⃣. 😤

Allie Hays races 🏃‍♀️💨 her way to the @NCAATrackField National Championships, finishing 1️⃣0️⃣th in the 5,000-meter run with a time of 16.19.18. 👏👏#RoarLionRoar pic.twitter.com/YRIl891PFi
— Columbia Lions XC/TF (@ColumbiaXCTF) May 26, 2019

HOW IT HAPPENED (MEN'S TRACK EVENTS): Sauer was the lone Lion who competed on Friday, as he had his quarterfinal race in the 800-meter run. In the race Sauer won his heat (second) and finished sixth overall with a time of 1:49.58 to become the first student-athlete on the men's side to qualify for the national championships in the 800-meter run since 2013.

On Saturday, Zabilski got his shot, and he came through when it counted. Zabilski won his heat (first) and finished 12^th overall to punch his ticket to the national championships. Also racing on the day was Sam Ritz and Lucky Schreiner, with Ritz finishing 21st overall in the 5,000-meter run with a time of 3:55.03 and Schreiner taking part in the 5,000-meter run, coming in 25th with a time of 3:55.03.

HOW IT HAPPENED (WOMEN'S TRACK EVENTS): Hays, who took part in the 5,000-meter run, was slotted in the second heat, where she finished with a time of 16:19.18 to earn a 10th place finish overall. Hays' time was fast enough to earn her the first non-automatic qualifying spot (top 5 in each heat got auto qualifying spot) and she heads to the national championships.

Katie Wasserman took part in the 1,500-meter run, having qualified on the first day of the meet, and she finished 20th overall with a time of 4:25.81. While in the 5,000-meter run, Erin Gregoire finished 42nd overall, running the race in 17:29.63.

HOW IT HAPPENED (MEN'S FIELD EVENTS): Columbia would get one other qualifier for the national championships in the triple jump when Igbokwe hit a mark of 15.65m to finish 11th overall, punching his ticket to Austin.

Daniel Igbokwe launches himself to Austin, Texas 🛫, finishing 1️⃣1️⃣th in the triple jump at the @NCAATrackField East Prelims. Hitting a mark of 15.65m to qualify for the National Championships. 👏👏#RoarLionRoar pic.twitter.com/MAFkBVz165
— Columbia Lions XC/TF (@ColumbiaXCTF) May 26, 2019

HOW IT HAPPENED (WOMEN'S FIELD EVENTS): Kali Hatcher took part in the triple jump for the Columbia women on the field, and she hit a mark of 12.65m to finish 21st, missing the qualification standard to advance to the next round.

UP NEXT FOR THE LIONS: Columbia's four qualifiers will now head to Austin to take part in the NCAA Division I National Championships, hosted by Texas. The meet will begin on Wednesday, June 5 and run until Saturday, June 8.

COLUMBIA RESULTS

NCAA Division I Track and Field Eastern Region Preliminaries (Days Two & Three)
Jacksonville, Fla. (Hodges Stadium)

Men's Events (Track)
800-Meter Run (Day Two): (1. Myles Marshall, Harvard, 1:48.23Q) 6. Alek Sauer, 1.49.58Q
1,500-Meter Run (Day Three): (1. Yared Nuguse, Notre Dame, 3:41.86Q) 21. Sam Ritz, 3:55.03
5,000-Meter Run (Day Three): (1. Kyle Mau, Indiana, 14:00.41Q) 12. Brian Zabilski, 14:14.96Q; 25. Lucky Schreiner, 14:31.96

Women's Events (Track)
1,500-Meter Run (Day Three): (1. Jessica Harris, Notre Dame, 4:12.64Q) 20. Katie Wasserman, 4:25.81
5,000-Meter Run (Day Three): (1. Esther Gitahi, Alabama, 16:03.48Q) 10. Allie Hays, 16:19.18q; 42. Erin Gregoire, 17:29.63

Men's Events (Field)
Triple Jump (Day Three): (1. Armani Wallace, Florida State, 54-1.25/16.49q) 11. Daniel Igbokwe, 51-4.25/15.65q

Women's Events (Field)
Triple Jump (Day Three): (1. Tiffany Flynn, Mississippi State, 44-8.75/13.63q) 21. Kali Hatcher, 41-6/12.65

FOLLOWING THE LIONS: Stay up to date on all things Columbia Track and Field by following the Lions on Twitter (@ColumbiaXCTF), Instagram (@columbiaxctf) and on Facebook (@ColumbiaAthletics).