KEVIN JENISON
GoSycamores.com
EUGENE, ORE. – Indiana State freshman Katie Wise went up against four of the top 10 sprinters in the nation and three other conference champions in the first heat of the women's 100 meter semifinals Wednesday, finishing seventh with a time of 11.48 seconds.
The 2013 Missouri Valley Conference champion's time put her 21st overall in one of the strongest fields of sprinters to race at the NCAA Outdoor Track & Field Championships.
Two other Sycamores were in competition on the opening day of the 2013 NCAA Outdoor Track & Field Championships at Hayward Field on the campus of the University of Oregon. Dustin Betz finished 23rd in the men's 3,000 meter steeplechase and Felisha Johnson placed 23rd in the women's hammer throw.
Wise is just one of two freshmen women to compete at the NCAA Finals. The other was Kylie Hutson who tied for 14th in her first NCAA women's pole vault final. Wise is also just the third freshmen to compete at the Division I National Championship with Aubrey Herring the lone member of the men's team to compete as a freshman. And she is now an Honorable Mention All-American.
The top four finishers in the opening heat advanced to the Friday finals including Central Florida junior Aurieyall Scott (11.00) who entered the competition as the top seed of the event after winning the NCAA East in 11.05 seconds. Oregon freshman and Pac-10 Champion Jenna Prandini finished second (11.14) with Texas A&M freshman Jennifer Madu (11.18) third, and Texas Tech sophomore and Big 12 Champion Cierra White (11.19) fourth.
Central Florida's Octavious Freeman ran the fastest time in the semifinals as she won the second heat in 10.99 while LSU senior Kimberlyn Duncan won the third heat in the third fastest time of 11.02 seconds. Also advancing to the finals was Oregon junior English Gardner (11.00) and Illinois freshman Morolake Akinosun (11.34).
Wise ran a wind aided 11.33 to place ninth at the NCAA East and advance to her first NCAA Finals. She is the first Indiana State sprinter to place in the Championships since Holli Hyche won the second of her two titles in the event in 1994.
Earlier Wednesday, Indiana State senior Dustin Betz capped his collegiate career with a 23rd place finish in the semifinals of the men's 3,000 meter steeplechase. Betz ran a disappointing 9:20.79 but that can not diminish the success he has had on the track during his Indiana State career which includes being a member of eight Missouri Valley Conference teams (three cross country, two indoor track, and three outdoor track). He is also an Honorable Mention All-American.
Texas-El Paso sophomore Anthony Rotich has the top time heading into the Friday finals after winning the first of two semifinal heats in 8:32.50. Texas A&M senior Henry Lelei has the second fastest time after winning the second heat in 8:40.18.
Indiana State senior Felisha Johnson began her final NCAA Outdoor Track & Field Championship with a 23rd place finish in the women's hammer throw. Johnson's best throw came on her final attempt as she went 185'-6” (56.55 meters). She entered the competition ranked 24th and improved one spot during the competition. Johnson will be an Honorable Mention All-American in the event, her fourth All-American recognition outdoors of her career.
The Sycamore will be back in action on Saturday as she competes in her best event, the shot put, which begins at 4 p.m. (ET) Saturday.
Arizona State senior Chelsea Cassulo entered the competition as the top ranked hammer thrower in the nation and she won the 2013 NCAA Championship with a throw of 226'-9” (69.12 meters). Illinois State senior Brittany Smith was second at 224'-9” (68.51 meters) with Kansas senior Alena Krechyk third at 223'-10” (68.22 meters).
Two more Sycamores will be in action on Thursday with senior Brandon Pounds going in the men's hammer throw at 4:30 p.m. (ET) and junior Greggmar Swift running in the semifinals of the men's 110 meter hurdles at 8:20 p.m. (ET).
