Rams Set to Compete at NCAA West Regionals

FORT COLLINS, Colo. – With the team aspect completed with a men's Mountain West Championship and a women's runner-up conference finish, the only thing to focus on now is the progression of individuals against a bigger pool of student-athletes with the first stop being the NCAA West Preliminaries.

The top 48 competitors from the West will vie to place in the top 12 and earn a berth to the NCAA Championships on June 9-12 in Eugene, Ore. The Colorado State track & field contingent consists of 21 student-athletes (8 men, 13 women) involved in 25 events this week, May 26-29, in College Station, Texas. Weather forecasts for the week at E.B. Cushing Stadium on the campus of Texas A&M University will see temperatures in the 80s with intermittent cloud cover.

For the second time in a row going back to the 2019 regionals, Eric Hamer will double, running the 10,000-meter race and the 5,000m. He finished 15^th and 16^th, respectively, in both races, while heading into this year's editions with the No. 7 seed for the 10K and 31^st for the 5K. Adam Dawson also is making a repeat appearance in his event – the discus – where he finished 11^th in 2019 and advanced to the NCAA Championships. Dawson LaRance takes his first crack at the 1500 at the regional meet, but it marks his third appearance as he ran in the 800 twice during his career at Minnesota. The other five Ram men will be making their NCAA outdoor track debut this weekend with three of them under freshman eligibility.

Thirteen of the Rams making their way come from the women's side, including five from the thrower's section in which three will be in two events. The reigning NCAA West shot put top qualifier Tarynn Sieg returns, but freshman Gabi McDonald represents CSU's top seed in the event at 24^th followed by Sieg in 31^st and three-time qualifier Maria Muzzio in 33^rd. Sieg also stands as CSU's second-highest seed (24^th) in the hammer throw behind Haley Showalter (23^rd) as Ashton Hallsted (42^nd) rounds out the second three-Ram throwing event. It marks the first regional appearance in the hammer for Sieg and Hallsted, but for Showalter it is her third. During her freshman season at Wisconsin in 2016, she finished ninth and then took 24^th in 2018 – her last Badger season. Just like the shot, Muzzio will be competing in the discus at regionals for the third time. She improved in her first two appearances from 40^th (2018) to 26^th (2019) and now enters as the 14^th-seed, which is the highest-seeded Ram among all three throwing events. McDonald will be joining her in the discus to mark the third two-event thrower.

On the track part, two of the remaining eight Ram women will be making their second prelim showing. For the second time in her career, Lauren Gale, will enter the regionals fresh off of winning the MW 400m title. She did so by reestablishing her school record at 52.22 – good for the 14^th seed in the West. The other experienced prelims qualifier is Megan Mooney who will be running in the 1500 and did so at the East Pelims in her final year at Florida State before becoming a graduate transfer for the Rams.

The highest-seeded Ram on the women's side is a freshman, Jordan Lanning, at the high jump with the 10^th spot. The Bayfield, Colo. native won the high jump portion of the MW heptathlon with a height of 1.82m, which also shot her up to third all-time at CSU. The remaining five Rams also will be first timers, including two that are freshmen in eligibility.

There are no finals, just first and/or quarterfinal/semifinal rounds to set qualifying for the NCAA Championships held June 10-12^th in Eugene, Ore. There are only three semifinal events on the track over the four days and that is the 10,000m, 5,000m and 3,000m steeplechase – all of which have Rams in the field. Those in the field have just three attempts at each discipline, making precision of their technique of much importance. Qualified Rams but scratched due to injuries include Jessica Ozoude (200m) and Germain Barnes (110mH, 400mH).

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NCAA West Notes
NCAA Regionals started in 2003.

The Distance Double (10K + 5K)
Eric Hamer is the only Ram in regional history to double and now he will have done it twice. This weekend 11 other student-athletes are doing the double.

Discus Volume II
Adam Dawson qualifying for his second discus at regionals puts him in a group seven other Rams that have competed at least twice in the event at regionals. The others include JT Van Veen (4 appearances), Cameron Carter (4 appearances), Jason Schutz (4 appearances), Alex Godell (2 appearances), Jason Fearheily (3 appearances), Nate Heyrman (2 appearances), and James Cale (2 appearances).

Ram Women Can Throw
Five Ram women from the throwing circle qualified for regionals. That number ties 2019 and 2016 for the second-most sent to regionals behind six in 2003, 2004 and 2006. There has only been two years (2010-2011) that the Rams have sent less than four student-athletes to compete in either shot put, discus, hammer and/or javelin.

400m Action
Tom Willems on the men's side is the third male ever for the Rams to reach regionals in the event and first since Robert Seth Monson in 2011. Drew Morano – the CSU outdoor and indoor 400m record holder – did so four times (2004, 2006-08). Willems is fourth of CSU's outdoor list and third indoor. Monson is 10^th and 17^th, respectively.

Lauren Gale on the women's side is the sixth female ever for the Rams to reach regionals in the event. She ties Katrice Thomas (2003, 2005) with the second-most appearances behind Emily Romo (2015-17). From 2006 to 2014, CSU lacked a female runner in the 400, but have had at least one Ram in all six regionals since.

Steeplechasers
Thomas Chaston and Lars Mitchel will be the first CSU men teammates in the 3000m steeplechase since 2011's duo of Spenser Lynass and Jake Keyser who also did it in 2009 too. Three other times, CSU had a pair in the event: 2007 (Keyser, Andres Urbina), 2005 (Mike Nicks, Rob Watson), and 2003 (Mike Nicks, Reagan Robb).

Emily Chaston keeps the streak going for the Rams of having at least one women's steepler since 2005. Surely, the Chaston siblings are the first brother-sister steeplechase duo at CSU.

High Jump
In 17 regionals, the Rams have only failed to send a women's high jumper four times (2003, 2009, 2012, 2019). Volunteer assistant coach Autumn Gardner was one of the last to compete at regionals in 2018.

Rare Company
Freshman Bailee Carr is just the second Ram all-time to compete in the 800m at the West Prelims, joining Mary Ridder (2003) in the first-ever regional meet. With a time of 2:06.18 at the MW Championships the other week, Carr unseated Ridder for the No. 2 spot in CSU history for the even. Carr now trails two-time 800m national champion Wendy Koenig-Knudson who has held the record of 1:59.91 since 1976.

Coach's Corner
Head coach Brian Bedard
On preparation since Mountain West Championships…
"Coming back from the conference meet we were focused on recovery – emotionally and physically. Some of the student-athletes were spent with the emotional three days, the competition, and the hot weather. So, we concentrated on active recovery and getting into the training room to reset. At end of last week, we started to ramp the intensity up in practice and fine tuning some techniques, going for quality over quantity. Also, for some who do not compete until later in the week, we are able to do some more practicing when we get down there."

NCAA West Preliminary
Day-by-Day Schedule for the Rams

Wednesday, May 26th (MEN)
5:30 p.m. MT | 1500m First Round: Jacob Brueckman, Dawson LaRance

4 Heats. Advance top 5 from each heat plus next 4 times to Friday's quarterfinals.

6:25 p.m. MT | 400m First Round: Tom Willems

6 Heats. Advance top 3 from each heat plus next 6 times to Friday's quarterfinals.

8:10 p.m. MT | 10,000m Semifinal: Eric Hamer

One round. One heat. Advance top 12 to finals in Eugene.

Thursday, May 27th (WOMEN)
12:30 p.m. MT | Hammer Throw First Round: Tarynn Sieg, Ashton Hallsted, Haley Showalter

Three seeded flights. Single round. 3 attempts. Advance top 12 placers to finals in Eugene.

5:00 p.m. MT | Shot Put Throw First Round: Tarynn Sieg, Gabi McDonald, Maria Muzzio

Four seeded flights. Single round. 3 attempts. Advance top 12 placers to finals in Eugene.

5:30 p.m. MT | 1500m First Round: Megan Mooney

4 Heats. Advance top 5 from each heat plus next 4 times to Saturday's quarterfinals.

6:25 p.m. MT | 400m First Round: Lauren Gale

6 Heats. Advance top 3 from each heat plus next 6 times to Saturday's quarterfinals.

6:50 p.m. MT | 800m First Round: Bailee Carr

6 Heats. Advance top 3 from each heat plus next 6 times to Saturday's quarterfinals.

7:20 p.m. MT | 400m Hurdles First Round: Yolonda Johnson

6 Heats. Advance top 3 from each heat plus next 6 times to Saturday's quarterfinals.

8:10 p.m. MT | 10,000m Semifinal: Lily Tomasula-Martin

One round. One heat. Advance top 12 to finals in Eugene.

Friday, May 28th (MEN)
12:30 p.m. MT | Discus First Round: Adam Dawson

Single round. 3 attempts. Advance top 12 placers to finals in Eugene.

2:15 p.m. MT | Triple Jump First Round: Allam Bushara

Single round. 3 attempts. Advance top 12 placers to finals in Eugene.

4:45 p.m. MT | 1500 Quarterfinals: IF Brueckman and/or LaRance advanced on Wednesday.

Advance top 5 from each quarterfinal plus next best 2 times to finals in Eugene.

5:10 p.m. MT | 3,000m Steeplechase Semifinals: Thomas Chaston, Lars Mitchell

One round. 3 heats. Advance top 3 from each heat plus next best 3 times to finals in Eugene.

6:20 p.m. MT | 400m First Round: IF Willems advanced on Wednesday.

Advance top 3 from each quarterfinal plus next best 3 times to finals in Eugene.

7:30 p.m. MT | 5,000m Semifinal: Eric Hamer

One round. Two heats. Advance top 5 from each heat plus next best 2 times to finals in Eugene.

Saturday, May 29th (WOMEN)
12:00 p.m. MT | High Jump First Round: Jordan Lanning

Progression: 167, 172, 177, 182, 185 then 3cm. Advance top 12 placers to finals in Eugene.

12:30 p.m. MT | Discus Throw First Round: Gabi McDonald, Maria Muzzio

Three seeded flights. Single round. 3 attempts. Advance top 12 placers to finals in Eugene.

4:45 p.m. MT | 1500 Quarterfinals: IF Mooney advanced on Thursday.

Advance top 5 from each quarterfinal plus next best 2 times to finals in Eugene.

5:10 p.m. MT | 3,000m Steeplechase Semifinals: Emily Chaston

One round. 3 heats. Advance top 3 from each heat plus next best 3 times to finals in Eugene.

6:20 p.m. MT | 400m Quarterfinals: IF Gale advanced on Thursday.

Advance top 3 from each quarterfinal plus next best 3 times to finals in Eugene.

6:35 p.m. MT | 800m Quarterfinals: IF Carr advanced on Thursday.

Advance top 3 from each quarterfinal plus next best 3 times to finals in Eugene.

6:55 p.m. MT | 400m Hurdles Quarterfinals: IF Johnson advanced on Thursday.

Advance top 3 from each quarterfinal plus next best 3 times to finals in Eugene.

7:30 p.m. MT | 5,000m Semifinal: Lauren Offerman

One round. Two heats. Advance top 5 from each heat plus next best 2 times to finals in Eugene.

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