Long Beach State University
NCAA West First Round
Graves-Johnson punches ticket to NCAA Championships
5/26/2012 12:00:00 AM | Track and Field
May 25, 2012
AUSTIN, Texas - Senior Katrina Graves-Johnson punched her ticket to the NCAA Championships in dramatic fashion as she won a jump off in the high jump Friday at the West Preliminary Rounds at Mike A. Myers Stadium.
The top 12 finishers in each event advance to the NCAA Championships in Des Moines, Iowa, June 6-9.
Graves-Johnson secured her trip to Des Moines after a jump off with Kenya Culmer of Southern Illinois. The Monrovia, Calif., native won on the fourth attempt to take the 12th and final spot. The two were tied after clearing 5-09.25 in Flight 2. Graves-Johnson was the runner-up at the Big West Championships and established a career-best 5-10.75 at the Mt. SAC Relays and the Steve Scott Invitational. She currently ranks seventh in school history.
Senior Shakina Phillips got off to a slow start in the 100-meter hurdles, but came on strong down the final stretch to cross the finish line in 13.65 seconds. Phillips placed third in Heat 3, automatically advancing her to the quarterfinal round, which will be held tomorrow at 5:20 p.m. (PT).
Sophomore Koree Hines was one spot shy of qualifying for the men's 110m hurdle quarterfinals. He clocked in at 14.16 seconds to come in sixth in his heat and 28th overall. Senior Christopher Lawson wasn't far behind as he was seventh in the same heat and 30th overall (14.18).
Lawson also came up just short in the 400m hurdle quarterfinals as he finished 14th overall with a time of 51.60 seconds.
Senior Jessica Barnard was 27th in the 3000m steeplechase (10:45.83), senior Sara Macey was 39th in the high jump (5-05.25), and freshman Cameron Glasgow was 45th in the first round of the 200m (21.89).
Long Beach State closes out action at the NCAA West Preliminary Rounds on Saturday, May 26. Shakina Phillips (100m Hurdles), Jacob Weintraub (Discus), Jacob Fraser (Discus) and Tyler Wallace (Pole Vault) will be competing for the 49ers. The men's discus is the first event of the day, beginning at 9 a.m. (PT).
Players Mentioned
