Willits Secures Spot at NCAA Championships

FAYETTEVILLE, Arkansas – Sydney Willits booked a return trip to NCAA Championships while a pair solidified their spot in quarterfinals in the second day of NCAA West Preliminaries.

Willits put up a monster long jump mark of 22-1 3/4w (6.75m) on her second go, an all-conditions best at a wind reading of 3.6 m/s. The crowd knew it was good, erupting after the junior lept to make her way up the leaderboard. That mark would hold as her best through three rounds to finish third overall.

Rachel Joseph kept her elite season going as the sophomore finished second in her heat behind Arkansas' Amber Anning, one of the NCAA's best who set the facility record of 50.23. Joseph timed in at 51.77 to automatically qualify for Saturday's quarterfinals. The time was good for 10th overall.

Fellow sophomore Makayla Clark advanced next, with her 800m time of 2:05.63 as she finished second in her heat to automatically qualify. Both Joseph and Clark move onto NCAA Prelims quarterfinals for the second year in a row in their events.

In the 1,500m, Bella Heikes finished sixth in her heat, one off the last automatic qualifying slot with 4:22.84. Heikes took 26th overall with her time being .81 seconds apart from the final time qualifying spot. Ashlyn Keeney (4:32.36) and Riley Beach (4:33.82) also raced in the event.

Dana Feyen ended her historic Cyclone career in the 10,000m, placing 24th among the stacked field with a time of 35:01.61.

NCAA West Prelims continue tomorrow for the third day as men continue action. Due to projected severe weather, the schedule has been moved up three hours. Events for Iowa State begin at 10 a.m. and include the discus, high jump, steeplechase and quarterfinal rounds for 110m hurdles, 800m and 1,500m.

Iowa State Results

Long Jump (W): 1. Ackelia Smith, Texas – 22-6 1/4w (6.86m); 3. Sydney Willits, Iowa State – 22-1 3/4w (6.75m)

1,500m First Round (W): 1. Mia Barnett, Oregon – 4:13.10; 26. Bella Heikes, Iowa State – 4:22.84; 43. Ashlyn Keeney, Iowa State – 4:32.36; 46. Riley Beach, Iowa State – 4:33.82

400m First Round (W): 1. Amber Anning, Arkansas – 50.23; 10. Rachel Joseph, Iowa State – 51.77

800m First Round (W): 1. Juliette Whittaker, Stanford – 2:02.43; 13. Makayla Clark, Iowa State – 2:05.63

10,000m Semifinal (W): 1. Taylor Roe, Oklahoma State – 33:46.23; 24. Dana Feyen, Iowa State – 35:01.61

Players Mentioned

Riley Beach

Makayla Clark

Dana Feyen

Bella Heikes

Rachel Joseph

Ashlyn Keeney

Sydney Willits

Sponsors

Iowa State University Athletics