Phillips Finishes in Top 25 at NCAA West Preliminaries
5/29/2015 12:00:00 AM | Track and Field
AUSTIN, Texas - Gonzaga track student-athletes, Jessica Mildes and Andy Phillips, had their stellar seasons come to an end at the NCAA West Preliminary Championships on the University of Texas campus at Mike A. Myers Stadium Thursday.
Phillips wrapped up his stellar career at Gonzaga with a 25th place finish in the 1,500 meters. Running in an extremely fast heat, six of the top 12 finishes in the first round we're in the third heat, he crossed the line at 3:50.40. The Jackson Hole, Wyo. native placed 10th in his heat, but nearly had a quarterfinal qualifying time.
The top five finishes from each heat, along with the next four fastest times from the four heats, advanced to Saturday's quarterfinal. The fourth and final at-large qualifying time came from Colorado's Jake Hurysz at 3:45.54. Two of the four at-large qualifying times came from Phillips' third heat. Hurysz placed seventh in the third heat.
"Andy was in the game in that bell lap," Director of Gonzaga Track Pat Tyson said. "The field surged hard! Andy was gapped, but then worked hard over last 150 meters and made up some ground. It was the hardest tactical race of the four heats. I am proud of Andy! I wish him the best in his future, and chasing the Olympic Trials. He will greatly be missed."
Phillips' seed time was 3:43.90, which entered as seventh in the heat. Adam Palamar of Tulsa (3:46.40), Izaic Yorks of Washington (3:46.53), Air Force's Zach Perkins (3:46.67), California's Thomas Joyce (3:46.82), and Colby Alexander (3:46.83) all advanced with top five times from the third heat. Fellow third heat runner, Blayne Dulian of Minnesota, along with Hurysz, advanced with at-large berths.
The top five times from the opening round of the 1,500 came in the second heat. Boise State's David Elliott (3:44.15) and Oklahoma State's Chad Noelle (3:44.45) had the top two times Thursday.
Phillips punched his ticket to the postseason in dramatic fashion at the Portland Twilight with just hours left in the qualifying window. He broke the Gonzaga 1,500-meter program record. His time of 3:43.90 edged out the previous record, 3:45.73. The senior was seeded 26th entering the west prelims.
In the women's 10,000 meters, Mildes got tripped up in the first 10 laps and limped through the final 15 laps. She crossed the line at 36:54.57 in 39th place. Hannah Everson of Air Force had the top time at the prelims at 34:23.52. The top 12 finishers advanced to the NCAA National Championships in Eugene.
"Rough one for Jess tonight," GU women's Head Coach Patty Ley said. "She was tripped up and fell in the sixth lap or so. She got up quickly, but admitted after the race that she was breathing harder and far more anxious after getting back into the pack. She ran well until the 5k when the adrenaline after the fall wore off and her energy bottomed out. It was just rough luck for a great young woman. She is pretty disappointed and showed great heart by fighting her way back in to the race, but just too much energy to expend in difficult conditions. Her finish doesn't reflect all she has done and all she is for our program."
It was a frustrating end to an incredible junior season for Mildes. In her first season with the Zags, she entered the NCAA West Preliminaries with Gonzaga's highest seed. The transfer from Spokane Falls Community College was seeded 10th in the field. She broke the program record at the Stanford Invitational with a time of 33:40.82, the 20th-fastest time in the nation, on April 3. Two weeks later, the Chattaroy, Wash., native set a new 5,000-meter GU record at 16:16.88.
On Friday at 6:50 p.m. Pacific Time, Shelby Mills runs in the second heat of the women's 3,000-meter steeplechase. She has the 14th seed time in the event at 10:18.42. Her time is the fourth fastest in the heat. The sophomore will need to finish in the top three in the heat, or have one of next three fastest times to advance to the semifinal in Eugene.
Mills shattered the previous 3,000-meter steeplechase school record by nearly 30 seconds at the Mt. SAC Relays. Her time is currently 49th in the country.
The men's 3,000-meter steeplechase will follow at 7:30 p.m. Pacific Time. Troy Fraley is slated in the second heat as well. He will also need to be in the top three of his heat, or have one of the next three fastest times to advance. The sophomore broke the program record at the San Francisco State Distance Carnival with a time of 8:56.23. Fraley is 34th in the region with that seed time and 12th in his heat.
Live video and results from the second day of the NCAA West Preliminaries will be available with links on GoZags.com.
Gonzaga's NCAA West Preliminary ScheduleTimes listed are central time zone
Thursday
Men's 1,500 meters first round: Andy Phillips (3:50.40, 25th)
Women's 10,000 meters semifinals: Jessica Mildes (36:54.57, 39th)
Friday
8:50 p.m. - Women's 3,000-meter steeplechase quarterfinals: Shelby Mills
(Top 3 from each heat + next 3 fastest times to semifinal in Eugene)
9:30 p.m. - Men's 3,000-meter steeplechase quarterfinals: Troy Fraley
(Top 3 from each heat + next 3 fastest times to semifinal in Eugene)
Saturday
6:45 p.m. - Men's 1,500 meters quarterfinals
(Top five from each heat and next two fastest times advance to final in Eugene)
8:05 p.m. - Women's 5,000 meters semifinals: Maggie Jones
(Top five from each heat and next two fastest times advance to final in Eugene)
8:45 p.m. - Men's 5,000 meters semifinals: Willie Milam
(Top five from each heat and next two fastest times advance to final in Eugene)
