Bor, Synacek Punch NCAA Tickets

LINCOLN, Neb.- Iowa State freshmen Hillary Bor and Tiffanie Synacek earned top-three finishes in the 3,000-meter steeplechase and the high jump, respectively, on Saturday at the NCAA Midwest Regional. The performances earned them automatic berths to the NCAA Championships at Drake Stadium in Des Moines from June 11-14. Bor shattered his career best time en route to a runner-up finish while Synacek cleared a career-best height to tie for third and earn her ticket to the national meet.

Bor, who finished runner-up in the 3,000-meter steeplechase at the Big 12 Outdoor Championships on May 18, paced himself well during the race, and patiently waited to make a move until the last lap of the race. The Kapsabet, Kenya native passed two competitors in a full sprint with 200-meters to go, to earn a silver medal and ensure a trip to the NCAA Championships. Bor clocked an 8:43.17 effort, crushing his former personal best of 8:54.92. Fellow Cyclone Jayden Russ earned 10th with a time of 9:06.36 to stay eligible for an at-large bid in the event.

"Hillary did a great job today," Iowa State head coach Corey Ihmels said. "His last lap was 63 seconds by my watch and he keeps getting better. It is important to remember that Tiffanie (Synacek) didn't even qualify for this regional until the conference meet. She knew exactly what she had to do to get back to Des Moines and she did it."

Synacek cleared a career-best 5-09 1/4 in her first attempt at the height, to tie for third in the event overall. The Council Bluffs native netted 5-07 1/4, the opening height, in her first jump, and duplicated the effort at 5-09 1/4 to ensure a trip to Des Moines.

“Our main goal going in, coach [Pete Herber] said ?if you are able to make your first two heights on your first two attempts that I was in [to the national meet],'” Synacek told reporters. “So I just had my focus on getting those heights on my first attempts.”

Synacek battled a tough field in the event, defeating the reigning Big 12 champion Kim Shubert from Nebraska, and Big 10 heptathlon champ Liz Roehrig of Minnesota. Dess Meek of Sam Houston State won the high jump with a 5-11 1/ 4 effort.

“It was anybody's game out there,” Synacek said. “Everybody had hit 5-8 3/4 before, so it was just whoever could get those first two heights on their first attempts. I am really excited to go back to Drake Stadium. I have jumped there plenty of times before, and I am ready to go back.”

James Galvan finished eighth in the 800-meters and remains eligible for an at-large bid in the event at the national meet. Throwers Amy Waggoner and Britta Christofferson both closed out their outdoor seasons on Saturday, missing the finals in the shot put.

Cyclone Results

Men

3,000-meter steeplechase

1. Billy Nelson, Colorado, 8:41.93; 2. Hillary Bor, Iowa State, 8:43.17; 10. Jayden Russ, 9:06.36

800-meter run

1. Jacob Hernandez, Texas, 1:45.68; 8. James Galvan, 1:54.79

High jump

1. Dess Meek, Sam Houston State, 5-11 1/4; t3, Tiffanie Synacek, Iowa State, 5-09 1/4

Players Mentioned

Hillary Bor

Hillary Bor

Britta Christofferson

Britta Christofferson

James Galvan

Jayden Russ

Jayden Russ

Amy Waggoner

Amy Waggoner

Sponsors

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