UVU Advances One After NCAA Prelims

Kenzie Jones, Sports Editor

The 2014 NCAA Division I West Preliminaries come to a close today at Arkansas’ John McDonnell Field in Fayetteville.

None of Utah Vally’s Wolverines advanced in preliminary action this weekend. This dose not put a shadow on UVU Athletes’ amazing performances at the meet: junior Michael McPerson took 44th in the long jump (6.66m or 21′-10.25″), freshman Kyler Sprague took 46th in eh 400-meter hurdles (54.21), senior Brooke Hodson-Davies took 43rd in the 3000-meter steeplechase (11:04.25), sophomore Scott Moake tied for 33rd in the high jump (2.02m or 6′-07.50″), while freshman Ryle Williams tied for 41st in the high jump with a no hight due to not being able to clear the bar in his first three attempts.

Sophomore Trac Norris was arguably the the strongest showing of any of the Wolverines as he finished 20th in the 3000-meter steeplechase. Norris was just 8-seconds shy of qualifying for Nationals with a time of 8:57.76. The Distance runner’s performance also placed him just shy of the school and his personal record.

This year’s NCAA regional competition was the first for Moake, Sprague, and Williams but the second for the seasoned athletes Hodson-Davies, McPherson, and Norris.

Even though no UVU athlete is advancing in preliminary action, Michael McPherson still be continuing on to the NCAA Championships. The junior previously qualified in the decathlon during the WAC Championships. McPherson will enter the NCAA Finals ranked 20th in the nation in the multi-event with 7,401 points. The Wolverine decathlete will become UVU’s first-ever track ace to represent the school at the NCAA Championships.

The 2014 NCAA Division I Outdoor Track & Field Championships will take place at Oregon’s Hayward Field in Eugene on June 11-14.