Naumann Qualifies for IAAF U-20 World Championships

CLOVIS, California – Iowa State got its second qualifier for the IAAF U-20 World Championships in as many days as Kelly Naumann stamped her passport for Bydgoszcz, Poland with her second place finish in the 3,000-meter steeplechase at the USATF Junior Championships Saturday. Naumann got her second place finish in 10:33.49.

Naumann settled into the middle of the pack, and was able to pick her way up the field at the water jump, taking advantage of her length to better clear the apparatus. With Arkansas's Devin Clark out of sight for first, it came down to a battle for second between the Razorbacks' Rachel Nichwitz and Naumann. Once again, Naumann positioned herself for the pass at the water jump, and cleared the barrier with ease and raced away to second place in 10:33.49, and to Poland for the U-20 World Championships.

Grace Gibbons was also strong for the Cyclones in the women's steeplechase, earning a sixth-place finish in a new personal best of 10:43.63. Gibbons, who cut nine seconds of her PR with the effort, moved into fifth in ISU history in the event.

Emma Whigham was very strong in three of her four events on Saturday. The Bettendorf native and Pleasant Valley graduate tied her all-conditions personal best in the 100 hurdles to start off the day at 14.43. In the shot put, she was just off her personal best by a quarter of an inch with a best toss of 31-10, and she finished the day on a very strong note, posting the top time in the 200-meter dash at 24.24.

Those efforts, along with a 4-10 1/2 in the high jump, racked her 2,996 points to put her into seventh place heading into tomorrow's day two events.

Jasmine Staebler's finished off her fantastic freshman season with an eighth-place finish in the 800-meter run. Staebler was able to stick with the pack for the first 400, but the much faster-pace, with the first lap clocking in at just over 60 seconds, meant that she would not be able to keep up for the win. She was still able to cross the line in eighth place at 2:08.17.

John Nownes closed out his season with a seventh place finish in the men's 5,000-meter run, clocking in at 15:31.91. The pace was very pedestrian, which meant it would come down to the kickers. Ten of the 11 runners were within arm's reach at the bell lap, including Nownes in eighth. While the pace of the winners was too much, Nownes was able to dig in for a seventh place finish to close out his 2016 season.

Up Next
Iowa State wraps up competition at the USATF Junior Championships tomorrow. Emma Whigham is the lone competitor tomorrow as she wraps up her heptathlon. She will begin with the long jump at 6:45 p.m. Central, the javelin at 7:45 p.m. and the 800-meter run at 9:05 p.m.

Iowa State Results
Heptathlon (thru 4 of 7 events): 1. Lyndsey Lopes, USC – 3,231; 7. Emma Whigham, Iowa State – 2,996
100m Hurdles (Hep.): 1. Kaylee Hinton, Texas Tech – 13.94(w); 8. Emma Whigham, Iowa State – 14.43(w)
High Jump (Hep.): 1. Tessa Holland, Illinois State – 5-7; 12. Emma Whigham, Iowa State – 4-10 1/2
Shot Put (Hep.): 1. Tia Livingston, Shore Athletic Club – 36-0 1/4; 7. Emma Whigham, Iowa State – 31-10
200m Dash (Hep): 1. Emma Whigham, Iowa State – 24.24

800m Run Final (W): 1. Samantha Watson, Rochester Running Rebels – 2:02.91; 8. Jasmine Staebler, Iowa State – 2:08.17
3,000m Steeplechase (W): 1. Devin Clark, Arkansas – 10:31.11; 2. Kelly Naumann, Iowa State – 10:33.49; 6. Grace Gibbons, Iowa State – 10:43.63
5,000m Run (M): 1. Zachary Snider, Wisconsin – 15:28.46; 7. John Nownes, Iowa State – 15:31.91

Naumann Qualifies for IAAF U-20 World Championships

Players Mentioned

Grace Gibbons

Kelly Naumann

John Nownes

Jasmine Staebler

Emma Whigham

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Iowa State University Athletics

Naumann Qualifies for IAAF U-20 World Championships

Players Mentioned

Grace Gibbons

Kelly Naumann

John Nownes

Jasmine Staebler

Emma Whigham

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