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Wednesday, May 25
Fayetteville, AR
All Day
Rice University
vs
NCAA West Prelims
McNaney, Slinkman Qualify for NCAA Championships
5/25/2022 7:25:00 PM | Men's Track & Field
FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. - Rice senior javelin thrower James McNaney and sophomore vaulter Alex Slinkman led a group of five Owls on day one of the NCAA West Prelims on Wednesday by punching a pair of tickets to the NCAA Championships to be held June 8-11 in Eugene, Oregon.
McNaney, who was seeded 12th, earned his second straight appearance to nationals by securing the 12th and final qualifying mark in the javelin, advancing with his opening throw of 67.29m (220-0). This year's C-USA javelin champion in San Antonio, McNaney recorded his third-best throw of the season on Wednesday and improved upon his mark of 66.90m at last year's NCAA West Prelims. McNaney will next compete on the grand stage on Wednesday, June 8 at 7:45 p.m. (CT).
Slinkman closed out the evening by earning his first career NCAA Championships berth with a 10th place result in the pole vault, clearing 5.29m on his second attempt. The C-USA Outdoor pole vault champion entered the meet seeded 21st in the NCAA West region and recorded his second-best clearance this outdoor campaign. Slinkman will also compete on Wednesday, June 8 in Eugene with the vault competition starting at 7:00 p.m.
In addition to McNaney and Slinkman, Nick Hicks closed out a strong junior campaign with a 26th place (62.19m) finish in the hammer throw while freshman sensation Grant Levesque put a bow on a stellar season by finishing 29th (5.04m) in the pole vault. Sophomore all-conference performer Elian Ahmar placed 47th (16.31m) in the shot put in his first career NCAA West Prelims appearance.
The Rice men will have two more competitors at the NCAA West Prelims with Samuel Woodley (discus-1 p.m.) and Ese Amata (high jump-2:30 p.m.) set to compete on Friday.
Rice Competitors
(Javelin)
12. James McNaney - 67.29m (220-9)
(Pole Vault)
T-10. Alex Slinkman - 5.29m (17-4.25)
29. Grant Levesque - 5.04m (16-6.50)
(Hammer Throw)
26. Nick Hicks - 62.19m (204-0)
(Shot Put)
47. Elian Ahmar - 16.31m (53-6.25)
McNaney, who was seeded 12th, earned his second straight appearance to nationals by securing the 12th and final qualifying mark in the javelin, advancing with his opening throw of 67.29m (220-0). This year's C-USA javelin champion in San Antonio, McNaney recorded his third-best throw of the season on Wednesday and improved upon his mark of 66.90m at last year's NCAA West Prelims. McNaney will next compete on the grand stage on Wednesday, June 8 at 7:45 p.m. (CT).
Slinkman closed out the evening by earning his first career NCAA Championships berth with a 10th place result in the pole vault, clearing 5.29m on his second attempt. The C-USA Outdoor pole vault champion entered the meet seeded 21st in the NCAA West region and recorded his second-best clearance this outdoor campaign. Slinkman will also compete on Wednesday, June 8 in Eugene with the vault competition starting at 7:00 p.m.
In addition to McNaney and Slinkman, Nick Hicks closed out a strong junior campaign with a 26th place (62.19m) finish in the hammer throw while freshman sensation Grant Levesque put a bow on a stellar season by finishing 29th (5.04m) in the pole vault. Sophomore all-conference performer Elian Ahmar placed 47th (16.31m) in the shot put in his first career NCAA West Prelims appearance.
The Rice men will have two more competitors at the NCAA West Prelims with Samuel Woodley (discus-1 p.m.) and Ese Amata (high jump-2:30 p.m.) set to compete on Friday.
Rice Competitors
(Javelin)
12. James McNaney - 67.29m (220-9)
(Pole Vault)
T-10. Alex Slinkman - 5.29m (17-4.25)
29. Grant Levesque - 5.04m (16-6.50)
(Hammer Throw)
26. Nick Hicks - 62.19m (204-0)
(Shot Put)
47. Elian Ahmar - 16.31m (53-6.25)
-RiceOwls.com-
Players Mentioned
Throws
/ Men's Track & Field
High Jump
/ Men's Track & Field
Throws
/ Men's Track & Field
Decathlon
/ Men's Track & Field
Javelin
/ Men's Track & Field
Pole Vault
/ Men's Track & Field
Throws
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