May 17, 2012

BERKELEY - Led by junior Deborah Maier, the No. 1 seed in the women's 10,000 meters, California has qualified 26 individuals and one relay for the NCAA West Preliminary meet that will determine entrants for the national track & field championships next month.

The NCAA West Preliminary meet will be contested May 24-26 on the University of Texas campus in Austin. The site includes representatives from 25 states and features 48 entries in individual events and the top 24 relay teams. First-round and quarterfinal heats will narrow the list of competitors to 12 in each event, with the semifinals and championship events held at the NCAA Championships set for June 6-9 at Drake University in Des Moines, Iowa.

Maier became the third-fastest 10K runner in NCAA history when she posted a Pac-12 and school-record time of 32:12.47 in the 10,000 at the Payton Jordan Invitational April 29. The multi-time track and cross country All-American set the mark in her first attempt at the 10K distance after previously concentrating on shorter distances. She was the NCAA runner-up in both the 3000 and 5000 meters during the 2012 indoor season.

In addition to Maier, Golden Bears are seeded among the top 12 in six different events: Malaina Payton (5th, women's long jump), Chelsea Reilly (8th, women's 5000m), Brian Carmichael (8th, men's high jump), Collin Jarvis (9th, men's 3000m steeplechase) and Hammed Suleman (10th, men's long jump; 12th, men's triple jump).

Cal is deepest in the triple jump, where there are four qualifiers on the men's side - Suleman, Taylor Kientzel, Jonte Grant and Chad Jones - and two for the women's team - Amanda Hunter and Aziza Baker. The Bears also have multiple qualifiers in the men's and women's high jump and men's hammer.

For more information, including the complete meet schedule, visit the West Preliminary website.

California NCAA West Preliminary Meet Qualifiers

Name                 Event                  Mark        Seed
Men
Chase Wheeler        100m                   10.46       35th
Collin Jarvis        3000m steeplechase     8:48.05     8th
Maxime Chevee        5000m                  14:07.44    35th
Matt Miller          10,000m                29:30.92    30th
Brian Carmichael     High Jump              2.19        8th
Nick Ridge           High Jump              2.15        22nd
Harrison Steed       High Jump              2.14        28th
Hammed Suleman       Long Jump              7.76        10th
Jonte Grant          Long Jump              7.64        18th
Chase Wheeler        Long Jump              7.63        19th
Hammed Suleman       Triple Jump            15.88       12th
Taylor Kientzel      Triple Jump            15.57       19th
Jonte Grant          Triple Jump            15.45       28th
Chad Jones           Triple Jump            15.30       35th
Derek White          Discus                 57.15       13th
Scott Esparza        Hammer                 60.29       24th
Derek White          Hammer                 58.62       43rd

Women
Charnell Price       100m                   11.51       17th
Charnell Price       200m                   23.74       25th
Taylor Bryson        1500m                  4:20.35     15th
Chelsea Reilly       5000m                  15:57.53    8th
Deborah Maier        10,000m                32:12.47    1st
Emani Truluck        100m hurdles           13.62       31st
Angelica Weaver      400m hurdles           57.85       15th
Team                 4x100m relay           44.89       15th
Gianna Fernandez     High Jump              1.76        26th
Kristin Rimbach      High Jump              1.75        34th
Malaina Payton       Long Jump              6.56        5th
Amanda Hunter        Triple Jump            12.73       19th
Aziza Baker          Triple Jump            12.72       21st
Linda Oseso          Hammer                 59.12       25th