
Photo by: Adam Aboelmatty
Cats Begin Quest for Nationals on Wednesday
5/23/2023 8:10:00 AM | Track & Field
ABILENE – Eight Abilene Christian track and field athletes are in California with plans to push through the NCAA West Regional this week and come back to Texas for the NCAA Outdoor Track and Field Championships.
To make that final site cut, the Wildcat athletes have to finish in the top 12 in their events in the West Regional. Each individual event boasts the 48 best athletes in the West.
The men's events in Sacramento are on Wednesday and Friday with women's events on Thursday and Saturday.
Nathanial Collier, William Harris, Jamal January, Jack Marshall and Jared Williams represent the ACU men with Ella Anttila, Zoe Burleson and Payton Kirk representing the women's team.
"We have a solid group of athletes going to Regionals this week," said ACU Head Track and Field Coach Jerrod Cook. "We train hard all year to be able to compete on the conference and national stage. I am excited to see some great performances from our qualifiers to challenge the next step to the national finals in Austin."
January gets things started for the Wildcats with his first-round race in the 110 hurdles set for 8 p.m. (CT) on Wednesday. January's top time this season is 13.66, which ranks 19th in the West. If he qualifies for the quarterfinals, January would run at 8:15 p.m. on Friday.
Williams has his first 400 meters at 10:20 p.m. on Wednesday. He is the No. 41 seed in the event at 46.14. Williams would compete in the quarterfinals at 8:50 p.m. on Friday if he qualifies.
Marshall is seeded 27th in the men's 200 meters, which has its first round at 10:45 p.m. on Wednesday. His season-best is 20.67. His quarterfinal round, pending qualification, would be at 9:50 p.m. on Friday.
The 8 p.m. slot on Thursday is a busy one for ACU with Burleson in her first of two events, the shot put, and Kirk in the long jump competing simultaneously.
Kirk is seeded 22nd in the long jump at 6.25 meters. Burleson's best heave this season is 15.95 meters, ranked 41st in the West.
Collier throws the discus at 3 p.m. on Friday. His best mark this season is 55.95 meters, ranking him 43rd in the West.
Saturday, Burleson is in the discus at 3 p.m. and Anttila competes in the triple jump at 8 p.m.
Burleson is ranked ninth in the West and is ACU's only favorite to advance. She has a throw of 57.24 meters this season.
Anttila is the No. 19 seed in the triple jump at 13.03 meters.
ESPN+ has the coverage daily, but no throws are included.
Wednesday (starting at 6 pm PT) - https://www.espn.com/espnplus/player/_/id/35c5e635-5360-4405-bebe-d7e151ecac6a
Thursday (starting at 6 pm PT) - https://www.espn.com/espnplus/player/_/id/a1c793ee-4374-4bd2-8c34-6a7b4c9debdb
Friday starting at 5 pm PT) - https://www.espn.com/espnplus/player/_/id/f979d43e-dda6-4a17-a24a-3793ec752b8a
Saturday (starting at 5 pm PT) - https://www.espn.com/espnplus/player/_/id/7a5da0a3-0985-45a3-a868-70d466e7bc49
Live Results: https://flashresults.ncaa.com/Outdoor/2023/FirstRounds/West/index.htm
To make that final site cut, the Wildcat athletes have to finish in the top 12 in their events in the West Regional. Each individual event boasts the 48 best athletes in the West.
The men's events in Sacramento are on Wednesday and Friday with women's events on Thursday and Saturday.
Nathanial Collier, William Harris, Jamal January, Jack Marshall and Jared Williams represent the ACU men with Ella Anttila, Zoe Burleson and Payton Kirk representing the women's team.
"We have a solid group of athletes going to Regionals this week," said ACU Head Track and Field Coach Jerrod Cook. "We train hard all year to be able to compete on the conference and national stage. I am excited to see some great performances from our qualifiers to challenge the next step to the national finals in Austin."
January gets things started for the Wildcats with his first-round race in the 110 hurdles set for 8 p.m. (CT) on Wednesday. January's top time this season is 13.66, which ranks 19th in the West. If he qualifies for the quarterfinals, January would run at 8:15 p.m. on Friday.
Williams has his first 400 meters at 10:20 p.m. on Wednesday. He is the No. 41 seed in the event at 46.14. Williams would compete in the quarterfinals at 8:50 p.m. on Friday if he qualifies.
Marshall is seeded 27th in the men's 200 meters, which has its first round at 10:45 p.m. on Wednesday. His season-best is 20.67. His quarterfinal round, pending qualification, would be at 9:50 p.m. on Friday.
The 8 p.m. slot on Thursday is a busy one for ACU with Burleson in her first of two events, the shot put, and Kirk in the long jump competing simultaneously.
Kirk is seeded 22nd in the long jump at 6.25 meters. Burleson's best heave this season is 15.95 meters, ranked 41st in the West.
Collier throws the discus at 3 p.m. on Friday. His best mark this season is 55.95 meters, ranking him 43rd in the West.
Saturday, Burleson is in the discus at 3 p.m. and Anttila competes in the triple jump at 8 p.m.
Burleson is ranked ninth in the West and is ACU's only favorite to advance. She has a throw of 57.24 meters this season.
Anttila is the No. 19 seed in the triple jump at 13.03 meters.
ESPN+ has the coverage daily, but no throws are included.
Wednesday (starting at 6 pm PT) - https://www.espn.com/espnplus/player/_/id/35c5e635-5360-4405-bebe-d7e151ecac6a
Thursday (starting at 6 pm PT) - https://www.espn.com/espnplus/player/_/id/a1c793ee-4374-4bd2-8c34-6a7b4c9debdb
Friday starting at 5 pm PT) - https://www.espn.com/espnplus/player/_/id/f979d43e-dda6-4a17-a24a-3793ec752b8a
Saturday (starting at 5 pm PT) - https://www.espn.com/espnplus/player/_/id/7a5da0a3-0985-45a3-a868-70d466e7bc49
Live Results: https://flashresults.ncaa.com/Outdoor/2023/FirstRounds/West/index.htm
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