Michigan State University
USA Track & Field Championships
Ashley Stacey Places Second at USATF Junior Nationals
6/24/2011 12:00:00 AM | Track and Field
June 24, 2011
EUGENE, Ore. - Freshman Ashley Stacey of the Michigan State track & field team placed second in the long jump at the USATF Junior National Championships in Eugene, Ore., on Friday, June 24. With her top-two finish, Stacey was selected to represent the USA at the Pan American Junior Championships in July.
"I am extremely proud of Ashley," said assistant track & field coach Chris Bostwick. "She did a great job in this tough competition. It was back and forth all competition long. Our goal going into the meet is to finish in the top two and make the USA Junior National team. Obviously, you go into a competition trying to win the event, but to be in the top two, I couldn't be any prouder of her."
Stacey got off to a strong start as she took the early lead after the first attempt with a 6.00m (19-8 ¼) leap. Stacey's lead grew when she turned in a mark of 6.21m (20-4 ½) during her second attempt.
After the field turned in its third attempts, Stacey fell back into second after Jenna Prandini posted a distance of 6.24m (20-5 ¾) during her third leap.
After qualifying for finals as one of the top-eight jumpers, Stacey would pass her fourth and fifth attempts before fouling on her sixth try. Stacey finished as the top collegiate jumper at the competition.
"This competition should help her confidence tremendously for the rest of her career. This is the best she has looked since she broke the school record at the NCAA Preliminary Rounds, and this is also the closest she has come to that record since that time. She just looked like a great competitor who was very poised on the runway and handled the competition very well. We created a plan and she just went out there and executed it," said Bostwick.
Prandini remained atop the leaderboard with her 6.24m mark to take home the gold.
Stacey will now travel to Miramar, Fla., for the Pan American Junior Championships July 22-24. Stacey is the second Spartan since 2009 to represent the USA at the Pan-Am Junior Championships, joining Beth Rohl who qualified in 2009 in the hammer throw.
"As far as next year, I think this is going to be a tremendous experience for her. She will be competing against individuals who are wearing uniforms that represent countries, not just schools," Bostwick added.
Players Mentioned
