Cralle punches ticket for nationals
6/1/2011 2:48:00 AM | Track & Field, Women's Track & Field
Sam Houston's Chris Cralle posted the top throw in the men's hammer competition at the NCAA Division I West Preliminary track and field meet at historic Hayward Field in Eugune, Oregon, Friday.
Cralle threw the hammer 218 feet nine inches on his second attempt for the best mark by any of the 48 competitors in the event. The victory in the hammer qualified Cralle for the national semifinals at the championships in Des Moines, Iowa, on Thursday, June 9.
Trey Henderson of Southern California was the runner-up in the competition with a throw of 213 feet, four inches.
Cralle is a three-time Southland Conference champion in the hammer.
D. J. Hayes missed advancing to the national finals by 0.58 seconds as he placed 17th in the 400 meter hurdles Friday afternoon. Hayes advanced through the prelims with a time of 46.92 seconds.
Hayes also ran the anchor leg for the Bearkat 4x400 relay team that placed 17th Saturday with a time of 3:10.50. Marquis Sneed, Brian Hellaire and Rodney Jones ran the first three legs for SHSU. The quartet was just two seconds off qualifying for nationals. Stephen F. Austin was the final team to earn a berth in the finals with a mark of 3:08.76.
Scottie Jones placed 28th in the men's 110 meter hurdles Saturday night. Friday Jones qualified for the quarterfinals of the 110 meter hurdles with a 17th place time of 14.08.
Louis Hedgeman finished 31st in the high jump with a leap of six feet, seven inches. Karique Stephen placed 24th Saturday in the men's triple jump with a mark of 50 feet, two inches.
Sabrina Starr was 44th in the 100 meter hurdles with a mark of 14.38 seconds. Ambra McCuin fouled three times and failed to post a mark in the triple jump.
Dakota Stewart, Christina Webb and Henry Jordan opened the meet for the Kats on the meet's first day of action Thursday.
Stewart came within less than a second of advancing to the preliminary round finals in the women's 400 meter hurdles. Stewart posted a mark of 1:01.24 to place 36th. The last qualifier ran the event in 1:00.42.
Christina Webb placed 42nd in the women's shot put, producing a throw of 44 feet, eight and one fourth inches. Julie Labonte of Arizona was the top qualifier with a toss of 58 feet, 10 inches.
On the men's side, Henry Jordan finished 31st in the men's long jump with a leap of 23 feet, four and one half inches. Jordan fouled on his first two attempts better nailing his third attempt.
Jacob Schultz and Preston Sanders placed 29th and 31st in the men's shot put. Schultz threw 54 feet, six and one half inches. Sanders tossed the shot 54 feet, two and 3/4 inches.
Sam Houston's men's 4x400 relay will run Saturday. Karique Stephen will compete in the men's triple jump on the final day of the meet as well.
The Bearkats are seeking to earn berths in the NCAA Division I national championships to be held in two weeks in Des Moines, Iowa.
