Qualifying Marks On The Line At West Coast Invite
5/14/2014 12:00:00 AM | Track and Field
SPOKANE, Wash. — With the outdoor track and field season winding down, this week's jaunt to the Willamette Valley marks the last time many Gonzaga runners will lace up their spikes. For a handful of Zags, however, it is one final chance to extend their season.
A few Bulldogs will attempt to hold onto, or in some cases collect, postseason qualifying marks when the GU track team competes in the West Coast Invitational in Salem, Ore., on Thursday. Running events start at 6 p.m. on the campus of Willamette University.
"This literally is the last chance," said Pat Tyson, Gonzaga's program director and men's coach. "You want to go and run as fast as you can."
While this meet signals the conclusion of the 2014 campaign for the majority of the Bulldogs, some still harbor hopes of competing in the NCAA Division I Outdoor Track and Field West Preliminary Championships. Only athletes who possess one of the top 48 times in a particular event at the conclusion of the season will advance to the meet, which takes place May 29-31 in Fayetteville, Ark.
Currently, Nick Roche boasts the 33rd-fastest time in the men's steeplechase, while Willie Milam is 46th in the 5,000 meters. The last day for athletes to achieve a qualifying time is Sunday, May 18. The NCAA will release the official competition list May 22.
Tyson says Roche and Milam, even if they don't improve their times at the West Coast Invite, likely have spots secured in the regional meet. A few others need to produce their best times of the season, if not their careers, in order to make the cut.
Brent Felnagle and Andy Phillips, both competing in the 1,500 meters, are two athletes capable of furnishing personal records that could put them in the mix for a regional bid, according to Tyson. The GU coach also pointed out Robert Walgren is capable of achieving the same feat in the 5K.
The Gonzaga women, meanwhile, are utilizing this meet as a building block for next year. Coach Patty Ley emphasized that this is an opportunity for a number of young runners to gain much-needed confidence heading into the offseason.
"It's a chance for our younger athletes to take one more step to that ultimate goal," Ley said. "For our seniors, it's their last chance in a uniform."
Ley is particularly eager to see Zoë Urcadez, Amelia Evans and Shelby Mills — all of whom are sophomores — compete in the 1,500, 5K and the steeplechase, respectively. Ley is also hopeful that redshirt juniors Jordan McCann and Shelly Davis, both still working their way back from injury and illness, will perform well in the 800 and 1,500, respectively.
"At this point, it's the last chance to finish off the season with a PR," Ley said. "It's a chance to go out on a high note."
