News release from Texas A&M Athletics:
FAYETTEVILLE – Texas A&M track & field’s Sam Hankins booked his ticket to the NCAA Championships on the opening day of the NCAA West First Round Wednesday at John McDonnell Field.
Setting the tone for the Aggies in the national qualifier was Hankins, as the junior secured his spot on the plane to Eugene, Oregon, for the NCAA Championships with a 10th-place finish in the men’s javelin. Hankins was sitting outside of the advancing spots before his final throw, and with all the pressure of qualification on the line he launched his javelin 69.15m/226-10 to book his ticket.
Continuing the momentum was the hurdle duo of Ja’Qualon Scott and Connor Schulman, as the pair finished third and seventh, respectively, to advance to Friday’s quarterfinals. Scott had a career day, crossing the line in 13.31 to win his heat, and set a new personal best in the process. His time also moved him up to No. 2 all-time in the Texas A&M record books. Schulman also won his heat with a time of 13.46, ensuring his advancement to the next round.
Cooper Cawthra joined the personal-best performance group, running 3:41.78 in the men’s 1500m to qualify for Friday’s competition. The mark lowered his time in the Maroon & White’s history books, as he remains at No. 3.
A&M then went on a run of triple qualifications in three-straight events, starting with the men’s 400m. Auhmad Robinson, Jevon O’Bryant and Cutler Zamzow all secured automatic qualification spots with top-three finishes in their respective heats. Robinson crossed the line in 45.46 to win the second heat, while O’Bryant placed first in 45.54 and Zamzow third in a personal-best time of 45.93 in the fourth heat.
Following suit in the men’s 800m, all three Aggies once again received automatic qualifying spots to Friday’s quarterfinals. Kimar Farquharson produced the fastest time of the Maroon & White athletes, winning his heat in 1:47.72, Caden Norris also placed third in that heat with a time of 1:48.39. Sam Whitmarsh rounded out the qualifiers, topping the third heat in 1:47.84.
The third set of triple advancers was in the 400m hurdles, where Bryce McCray led the group and finished as the third-overall qualifier in 50.24. Kirk Collins, Jr. ran a personal-best 50.81 to move on as the third-fastest non-automatic qualifier, and Scott locked in the last finals spot with a runner-up finish in his heat clocking 50.91.
A&M had a pair of heartbreaking results come from two great performances, as Jack Mann III and Bryce Foster finished 13th in their respective events, one spot shy from national qualification.
Up Next
The Aggies return to John McDonnell Field tomorrow for the second day of the NCAA West First Round, as the women get their qualification underway.
To learn more about Texas A&M Track & Field/Cross Country, visit 12thMan.com and follow @aggietfxc.