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Thursday, May 23
Fayetteville, Ark.
Rice University
vs
NCAA West Preliminary
Alice Taylor Advances to NCAA Championships; Owls to Send Four to Eugene
5/26/2024 12:00:00 AM | Women's Track & Field
FAYETTEVILLE – The Rice women's track and field team wrapped up their weekend at the NCAA West Prelims on Saturday, with one more Owl advancing to the NCAA Championships. Rice will have four athletes in the championship meet, the most since the 2014 season.
To open the final day of competition, Alice Taylor secured a spot at the NCAA Championships with a clearance of 1.84m on her final jump at the bar. Josie Taylor came just shy of qualifying for the meet, ending 14th with a clearance of 1.81m.
After an incredible senior season, Taigen Hunter-Galvan ended her Rice track career with the Owls by finishing 14th in the 800m. Hunter-Galvan leaves the track as a five-time conference event champion and is the school record holder for the indoor 800m.
Over at the triple jump, Ginnie Okafor closed out her Rice career by finishing 32nd in the event. Okafor ends her career as a two-time conference champion in the triple jump and a four-time all-conference honoree. Teammate Savannah Simms also saw her season come to a close, finishing 38th.
Joining Alice Taylor in Eugene will be Eliza Kraule (heptathlon), Tara Simpson-Sullivan (hammer throw) and Mckyla Van der Westhuizen (javelin).
Post-Meet Reaction - Head Coach Jim Bevan
"We had five compete today, and they all competed extremely hard. In the high jump, the highlight is Alice making it through to nationals. She had three tremendous jumps, but more importantly, she cleared the bar at 1.84m to make the national meet. Her sister, Josie, competed well with a clearance of 1.81m. Once again, the west region is the best in the high jump, and Josie did well and will be back again. We move to the triple jump where Savannah Simms jumped 12.58m and continues to gain national-level experience. Ginnie Okafor finished her Rice career this afternoon and she always competes with her heart and her presence and leadership will missed dearly. Ginnie has overcome far more obstacles than anyone knows on her route to becoming a two-time conference champion and three-time national qualifier. Taigen Hunter-Galvan finished her Rice track career (will be back in the fall) by putting her nose in a very fast race. She went through the 600m faster than she ever has, and when she made her move, she tripped and lost some momentum, but came back running a season's best and doing everything she could to qualify. Like Ginnie, Taigen is one of the leaders who will be missed, but I am very excited that she will return to run next fall. A five-time conference champion, her presence in the fall will be tremendous.
In two weeks, Rice women's track is back in action in Oregon with Tara Simpson-Sullivan in the hammer on Thursday, June 6. She will be followed by Mckyla Van der Westhuizen in the javelin also on that Thursday. On June 7 and 8, we will have Eliza Kraule in the heptathlon and we will also have Alice Taylor competing in the high jump. It is a great group; this is the most qualifiers for us since 2014. Three of the four are school record holders and everyone is in the mix to score. It will be a very exciting meet for Rice women's track and field."
RESULTS
800m
14. Taigen Hunter-Galvan – 2:04.98
Triple Jump
32. Ginnie Okafor – 12.77m (41-10.25)
38. Savannah Simms – 12.58m (41-03.75)
High Jump
8. Alice Taylor – 1.84m (6-00.50) - advances
14. Josie Taylor – 1.81m (5-11.25)
THURSDAY'S RESULTS
100m Hurdles
38. Eliza Kraule – 13.67s
100m
40. Kennedy Gamble – 11.47s
800m
24. Taigen Hunter-Galvan – 2:07.47 – advances to Saturday's finals
Hammer Throw
8. Tara Simpson-Sullivan – 62.65m (205-06) – advances
Javelin
4. Mckyla Van der Westhuizen – 55.55m (182-03) – advances
UP NEXT
Rice will send four athletes to the NCAA Championships on June 5-8.
To open the final day of competition, Alice Taylor secured a spot at the NCAA Championships with a clearance of 1.84m on her final jump at the bar. Josie Taylor came just shy of qualifying for the meet, ending 14th with a clearance of 1.81m.
After an incredible senior season, Taigen Hunter-Galvan ended her Rice track career with the Owls by finishing 14th in the 800m. Hunter-Galvan leaves the track as a five-time conference event champion and is the school record holder for the indoor 800m.
Over at the triple jump, Ginnie Okafor closed out her Rice career by finishing 32nd in the event. Okafor ends her career as a two-time conference champion in the triple jump and a four-time all-conference honoree. Teammate Savannah Simms also saw her season come to a close, finishing 38th.
Joining Alice Taylor in Eugene will be Eliza Kraule (heptathlon), Tara Simpson-Sullivan (hammer throw) and Mckyla Van der Westhuizen (javelin).
"We had five compete today, and they all competed extremely hard. In the high jump, the highlight is Alice making it through to nationals. She had three tremendous jumps, but more importantly, she cleared the bar at 1.84m to make the national meet. Her sister, Josie, competed well with a clearance of 1.81m. Once again, the west region is the best in the high jump, and Josie did well and will be back again. We move to the triple jump where Savannah Simms jumped 12.58m and continues to gain national-level experience. Ginnie Okafor finished her Rice career this afternoon and she always competes with her heart and her presence and leadership will missed dearly. Ginnie has overcome far more obstacles than anyone knows on her route to becoming a two-time conference champion and three-time national qualifier. Taigen Hunter-Galvan finished her Rice track career (will be back in the fall) by putting her nose in a very fast race. She went through the 600m faster than she ever has, and when she made her move, she tripped and lost some momentum, but came back running a season's best and doing everything she could to qualify. Like Ginnie, Taigen is one of the leaders who will be missed, but I am very excited that she will return to run next fall. A five-time conference champion, her presence in the fall will be tremendous.
In two weeks, Rice women's track is back in action in Oregon with Tara Simpson-Sullivan in the hammer on Thursday, June 6. She will be followed by Mckyla Van der Westhuizen in the javelin also on that Thursday. On June 7 and 8, we will have Eliza Kraule in the heptathlon and we will also have Alice Taylor competing in the high jump. It is a great group; this is the most qualifiers for us since 2014. Three of the four are school record holders and everyone is in the mix to score. It will be a very exciting meet for Rice women's track and field."
800m
14. Taigen Hunter-Galvan – 2:04.98
Triple Jump
32. Ginnie Okafor – 12.77m (41-10.25)
38. Savannah Simms – 12.58m (41-03.75)
High Jump
8. Alice Taylor – 1.84m (6-00.50) - advances
14. Josie Taylor – 1.81m (5-11.25)
THURSDAY'S RESULTS
100m Hurdles
38. Eliza Kraule – 13.67s
100m
40. Kennedy Gamble – 11.47s
800m
24. Taigen Hunter-Galvan – 2:07.47 – advances to Saturday's finals
Hammer Throw
8. Tara Simpson-Sullivan – 62.65m (205-06) – advances
Javelin
4. Mckyla Van der Westhuizen – 55.55m (182-03) – advances
Rice will send four athletes to the NCAA Championships on June 5-8.
Players Mentioned
Sprints
/ Women's Track & Field
Distance
/ Women's Track & Field
Multis
/ Women's Track & Field
Sprints/Jumps
/ Women's Track & Field
Hurdles
/ Women's Track & Field
Throws
/ Women's Track & Field
Jumps/Multis
/ Women's Track & Field
Jumps
/ Women's Track & Field
Javelin
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