Track & Field Sends Seven to NCAA Championships
6/7/2011 12:00:00 AM | Track and Field
June 7, 2011
| NCAA Track & Field Championships Coverage | ||
| Dates | Wednesday-Saturday, June 8-11 | |
| Location | Des Moines, Iowa | Drake Stadium | |
| NCAA Championships | Information | |
| Event Schedule | Weekend Schedule | |
| Start Lists | Women's Start Lists | Men's Start Lists | |
| Live Video (Free) | Click Here | |
| Live Results | Here | |
| Qualification | Procedure Summary | |
| Social Media | @ msutrackfieldxc  | Facebook  | |
EAST LANSING, Mich. - The Michigan State track & field team will send seven individuals in eight events to Des Moines, Iowa for the 2011 NCAA Outdoor Track & Field Championships at Drake Stadium from June 8-11. MSU will be represented by seniors Ashley Lawrence and Emily MacLeod, sophomores Codi Mattix, Lonnie Pugh and Beth Rohl and freshmen Zack Hill and Ashley Stacey.
"It is our expectation to be successful," said MSU director of track & field and cross country Walt Drenth. "I am very excited for those that have advanced to the NCAA Finals, and proud of those who qualified for the NCAA Preliminary Rounds, too. For us to be successful as a program, our expectations need to be that this is what happens at the end of the year."
MacLeod is one of three Spartans to be making a return trip to the NCAA Finals after qualifying for the competition in the 5,000-meter run. This marks MacLeod's second-straight trip in the event, having placed sixth a year ago to earn All-America recognition with a time of 16:06.75. MacLeod qualifies for the event after placing third at the NCAA Preliminary Rounds with a personal-best time of 15:57.57. MacLeod wraps-up the competition for MSU on Friday, June 10 with her race scheduled for 9:10 p.m.
Rohl was the team's second All-American in 2010, as she earned the honors after placing fifth in the discus throw with a toss of 53.44m. For the second-consecutive year, Rohl has qualified for the NCAA Championships in both the hammer throw and is one of two Spartans to qualify in the discus throw. Rohl advances in the discus throw after placing fourth at the first and second rounds of the NCAA Championships with a toss of 53.08m. Rohl posted her second-qualifying mark as she was 11th in the hammer throw with a distance of 58.49m the same weekend. Rohl is scheduled to compete on Wednesday, June 8 at 4 p.m. in the discus, and Friday, June 10 at 4 p.m. in the hammer.
Pugh returns to the NCAA Championships as a qualifier in the discus throw after redshirting during 2010 season. This will mark Pugh's second appearance in the finals of the discus after he placed 14th overall as the top freshman at the 2009 NCAA Championships. Pugh was accepted into the NCAA Finals after placing sixth at the preliminary rounds with a toss of 55.74m. Pugh will compete on Wednesday, June 8 at 7 p.m.
Lawrence makes her first appearance in the NCAA Finals after advancing in the discus throw with personal-best qualifying mark of 53.01m at the preliminary rounds, good enough for fifth place at the competition. Lawrence will throw on Wednesday, June 8 at 4 p.m.
Mattix is the lone vertical jumper qualified for MSU as he will make his NCAA Championships debut in the pole vault. Mattix placed tied for first at the NCAA Preliminary Rounds with a personal-best height of 5.20m. Mattix is scheduled to jump on Wednesday, June 8 at 6:35 p.m.
Hill is one of two freshmen to make their NCAA Finals debut in their first attempt. Hill qualified for the shot put after placing eighth overall in the event at the NCAA Preliminary Rounds with a toss of 18.12m. Hill will compete on Friday, June 10 at 6:30 p.m.
Stacey qualifies in her first year on campus for the NCAA Championships in the long jump. Stacey had the most electrifying performance out of all the Spartans at the NCAA Opening Rounds as she turned in a school-record leap of 6.33m to place fourth overall in the event. Stacey is set to compete on Wednesday, June 8 at 6:30 pm.
Coverage...
Live results and video will be available during all four days of the meet and linked on www.msuspartans.com. The meet will be aired live on Friday from 7:30-9:30 p.m. ET on CBS College Sports Network and from 1-3 p.m. on Saturday on CBS. NCAA.com will stream the entire championship online.
Spartan Schedule at the NCAA Championships (All times Eastern)
Wednesday, June 8
4 p.m. Women's Discus Throw (Ashley Lawrence and Beth Rohl)
6:30 p.m. Women's Long Jump (Ashley Stacey)
6:35 p.m. Men's Pole Vault (Codi Mattix)
7 p.m. Men's Discus Throw (Lonnie Pugh)
Friday, June 10
4 p.m. Women's Hammer Throw (Beth Rohl)
6:30 p.m. Men's Shot Put (Zack Hill)
9:10 p.m. Women's 5,000-meter (Emily MacLeod)
New USTFCCCA All-America Policy...
Individuals and relays that score any portion of a team point in an NCAA Track & Field Championship will earn USTFCCCA First-Team All-America honors (place first through eighth). Those individuals and relays that place between nine and 16 overall (including ties) in an NCAA Track & Field Championship will earn USTFCCCA Second-Team All-America honors. Those who do not meet the criteria above, but participate at least a round of the finals site for an NCAA Championship will be listed as Honorable Mention All-America.
MSU Athletes at Nationals...
Zack Hill - Men's Shot Put
Personal best: 18.57m (February 26, 2011)
Ashley Lawrence - Women's Discus
Personal best: 53.01m (May 28, 2011)
Codi Mattix - Men's Pole Vault
Personal best: 5.20m (May 27, 2011)
Emily MacLeod - Women's 5,000-meter Run
Personal best: 15:57.57 (May 28, 2011)
Lonnie Pugh - Men's Discus Throw
Personal best: 58.65m (May 30, 2009) - school record
Beth Rohl - Women's Discus Throw and Women's Hammer Throw
Personal best in discus throw: 55.94m (May 15, 2011) - school record
Personal best in hammer throw: 60.28m (May 13, 2011) - school record
Ashley Stacey - Women's Long Jump
Personal best: 6.33m (May 26, 2011) - school record
Recapping the 2010 NCAA Finals...
Beth Rohl highlighted the opening day of the competition for the Spartans with her fifth-place showing in the women's discus throw. Rohl recorded a distance of 53.44m during her first toss of the competition, which at the time was the top mark in the event. As a result, Rohl became MSU's first All-American discus thrower in school history.
For the second-consecutive year, MSU has had a member of its team receive All-America honors in the 5,000m run as Emily MacLeod finished sixth with a then personal-best time 16:06.75 in the event. MacLeod became the second consecutive 5,000-meter All-American for the Green and White. This was also the second consecutive year MSU has seen two student-athletes receive All-America honors.
Also competing in Eugene was Becca Buchholtz in the high jump, Josh McAlary in the 1,500-meter run, Keenan Michael in the 400-meter hurdles and Kyron Foster in the triple jump.
USTFCCCA Regional Recognition...
Sophomore thrower Beth Rohl and assistant coach John Newell earned Great Lakes Region honors, as announced by the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) on Monday, May 6. Rohl was named as the USTFCCCA's Great Lakes Field Athlete of the Year, while Newell was tabbed as the Assistant Coach of the Year.
Indoor All-Americans...
Three members of the Michigan State track & field team earned All-America honors following their performances last weekend at the NCAA Indoor Championships in College Station, Texas, as announced by the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) on Monday, March 14. Earning first team honors for the Spartans were sophomores Lonnie Pugh and Beth Rohl while freshman Zack Hill received second team distinction.
Mid-Season USTFCCCA Report...
The U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) released its annual program report through the indoor track season and the Michigan State women's track & field and cross country programs rank 21st nationally. The Spartans are one of four Big Ten teams currently on the Terry Crawford Program of the Year Award list.
Big Ten Outdoor Champs...
Highlighting the opening day was sophomore Beth Rohl in the women's weight throw with a career-best and facility record mark of 60.28m.
After fouling her first two throws of the day, Rohl recorded a distance of 56.01m to qualify for the finals in third place. Rohl regained her composure in the finals, posted back-to-back 60.0m-plus marks for her fourth and fifth marks. Rohl's fifth mark of 60.28m gave the women 10 points towards the team total.
Sophomore Lonnie Pugh led the team during day two in the men's discus throw. Pugh placed first in the event with a toss of 53.81m. Pugh entered finals in first place, and only extended his lead with his first throw of the finals. Two of Pugh's three legal throws were the top marks recorded in the competition, while fouling the other three attempted tosses.
Rohl was the first to capture a Big Ten Championship in the final day of competition when won the women's discus throw. Rohl captured her second crown of the weekend when she posted a toss of 55.94m. Rohl's mark was her second school- and facility-record of the weekend.
Junior Becca Buchholtz posted a school record height of 1.82m to win her second-straight high jump crown. Buchholtz opened the competing on a quick pace as she cleared 1.67m, 1.70m, 1.73m, 1.76m and 1.79m all on her first attempt. After missing her first tries at 1.82m, Buchholtz finally cleared the height on her third attempt.
Senior Emily MacLeod was the third be victorious today as she won the 5,000m run for her fourth individual crown during the 2010-11 school year. MacLeod posted a time of 16:09.10 to win the race by 2.91 seconds.
Big Ten Indoor Champs...
Senior Emily MacLeod opened the 2011 Big Ten Indoor Championships with a win in the 3,000-meter run. The Loveland, Ohio, native started the event on a high note for MSU as she won the first event title indoors in school history with a time of 9:22.83. MacLeod closed out the weekend with her second win when she clocked in a 16:25.65 in the 5,000-meter run.
Freshman Ashley Stacey captured her first conference crown of her career when she posted a personal-best leap of 12.69m in the triple jump. Stacey became only the second Spartan all-time to win an indoor triple jump title, joining Sherita Williams who won the event in 2001.
Post-Season Conference Honors...
Sophomore Beth Rohl was named both Big Ten Field Athlete of the Year and Big Ten Field Athlete of the Championships, as announced by the conference office on May 18. Rohl earned field athlete of the year and of the championships following her pair of Big Ten Championships in the hammer throw and discus throw. Rohl kicked off the competition with a solid performance in the weight throw to post her first championship of the weekend.
Rohl becomes the first Spartan to ever be named Big Ten Athlete of the Year or Big Ten Athlete of the Championships in either field or track.
Also receiving conference laurels for their performances at the conference championship was junior Becca Buchholtz, senior Emily MacLeod, sophomore Lonnie Pugh and freshman Ashley Stacey. Buchholtz, MacLeod and Pugh all were First Team All-Big Ten honorees, while Stacey received Second Team All-Big Ten kudos.
MacLeod and Stacey both received First Team All-Big Ten distinction for their conference championships. Joining MacLeod and Stacey with Second Team All-Big Ten honors were freshman Zack Hill, Pugh and Rohl.
Record-Breaking Spartans...
With the season winding down, the Spartans have already rewritten the MSU record books during the 2011 season. So far, six school records have been broken during both the indoor and outdoor seasons.
Outdoor:
• Becca Buchholtz
High Jump (1.82m (5-11 1/2)) - Big Ten Outdoor Championships
• Lonnie Pugh
Hammer Throw (62.82m (206-1)) - Big Ten Outdoor Championships
• Beth Rohl
Hammer Throw (60.28m (197-9)) - Big Ten Outdoor Championships
Discus Throw (55.94m (183-6)) - Big Ten Outdoor Championships
• Ashley Stacey
Long Jump (6.33m (20-9 1/4)) - NCAA East Region Preliminary Rounds
Indoor:
• Lonnie Pugh
Weight Throw (20.69m (67-10 3/4)) - Big Ten Indoor Championships
• Beth Rohl
Weight Throw (20.44m (67-0 3/4)) - GVSU Big Meet
• Carlie Green, Alysson Bodenbach, Amelia Bannister and Emily MacLeod
Distance Medley Relay (11:17.62) - Meyo Invitational
Players Mentioned
