Mia Zamora Johnson
Jeff Duensing set a great personal best Wednesday to qualify for the first NCAA Championship of his career.
Moisander, Duensing and Magula head to Austin
SACRAMENT- The California Track and Field approached day one of the NCAA West Preliminary with high hopes Wednesday as their program’s first group, a record 36 entrants, prepared to compete against hundreds of the best in the country in the Sacramento State Hornet Stadium.
Each regional competition has the stakes high: only 12 athletes in each event can secure a spot to the NCAA outdoor championships. Field athletes only receive three attempts instead of the usual six to qualify, while track athletes (except the 5,000 m and 10,000 m) must qualify through a first round and quarterfinals.
For the second year in a row, he was junior Ivar Moisander who posted the Bears’ first NCAA qualifying performance, throwing the hammer 69.15m (226-10) on his second throw to take seventh place in the 48-member field. It was an improvement on his previous outings in the West Preliminary, where he finished ninth in 2022 and 13th in 2021.
The next Cal competitor to qualify was a junior jeff duensing, who had previously made the West Preliminary in each of his first two college seasons but failed to advance further; this time, he took the next step in spectacular fashion, surpassing his previous personal best of 18.94m (62-1.75) on all three throws. In the end, Duensing’s new best throw of 19.80 m (64-11.5) measured nearly four feet longer than his old PR, moving him into a tie for third on Cal’s all-time list. .
“If I could talk to my freshman self, he would tell me not to be so hard on myself and to trust that the hard work pays off, that I’d be glad to be able to compete at such a high level and that the big shots will come.” . ,” he said. “This is the best I’ve ever felt throwing the shot put. I’m looking forward to building on what I have now in the NCAA.”
Other Golden Bear pitchers who competed on Wednesday included senior kegan schroeter (hammer, 60.89m/199-9), junior Michael Gupta (hammer, 60.75m/199-3) and junior jake porter (shot put, 17.80 m/58-4.75).
Two weeks after making his first Pac-12 Championship appearance, and walking away with a conference title, senior Skyler Magula he did better Wednesday, earning his berth to the NCAA Championship in his first regional preliminary and becoming the first Bears men’s pole vaulter to advance since 2010. Magula cleared the bar at 5.40m (17-8, 5) on his second attempt, shortly after which the competition was stopped due to only 12 athletes remaining on the field. On the same flight, sophomore tyler burns he appeared in his second consecutive NCAA West Preliminary, but did not record a record.
Junior garrett macquiddy he starred for the Bears on the track, qualifying for the 1500m quarterfinals for the second straight year by finishing fifth in his heat with a respectable time of 3:41.87. He’ll be trying to clinch a top-12 spot in Friday’s race to move on to the first outdoor championships of his career.
Although he did not qualify for the 110 m hurdles quarterfinals, sophomore Di’Niko Bates he ran his second fastest race with a time of 14.02. Class mate David Foster he was Cal’s last track competitor of the night, finishing the 100 m in 10.42.
First Day Results (Men)
Hammer:7. Ivar Moisander 69.15m/226-10(q); 29 kegan schroeter 60.89m/199-9; 31 Michael Gupta 60.75m/199-3
Shot put: 7. jeff duensing 19.80m/64-11.5 (q) (tied-3rd Cal Record) (PR); 33. jake porter 17.80m/58-4.75
110 m hurdles: 30 Di’Niko Bates 14.02
1500m: 9. garrett macquiddy 3:41.87 (Q)
100m: 28 David Foster 10.42
Pole vault: T2. Skyler Magula 5.40m/17-8.5; – tyler burns N.H
UNTIL NEXT TIME
The Cal women begin competition tomorrow in the NCAA West Preliminary, beginning with the hammer throw at 10 am PT.
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