McNeill Wins 5,000-Meter Run, Rossini Eighth in Discus at West Prelims
AUSTIN, Texas – It was an exciting final day of competition from Mike A. Myers Stadium on the campus of Texas as both senior David McNeill and junior Andres Rossini of the Northern Arizona track and field team punched their tickets to Eugene, Ore., for the NCAA Outdoor Championships.
McNeill claimed the men's 5,000-meter run with a time of 13:59.30, the only sub-14 minute time run in tonight's event, and third fastest regional time in the nation.
"I think everyone was being a little bit cautious about the heat tonight because the faster you went, the hotter you got," McNeill said. "I just stayed in the front out of trouble. There was a three-way lead most of the race and it worked out in the end."
Part of the lead pack the entire race, McNeill took off at the start of the bell lap to extend his lead down the backstretch, and eventually finished over two seconds better then the rest of the field.
Next up for the Australia native will be his final track race as a Lumberjack, and he knows what to expect from the field in the championship event.
"Just like any race, you have to be ready for anything," McNeill said. "The way I do that is by staying near the front and avoid getting boxed in. You have to make sure that even with a mile to go, you are ready to give it your all."
Competing in the first regional meet of his career, Rossini captured eighth place in the discus with a toss of 185 feet, 9 inches. The Argentina native, fresh off his Big Sky discus title, threw his best mark of the day on his second and sixth throws of the competition. He will join fellow thrower Javier Villarreal as the first duo of NAU throwers to make it to the national meet since 2004.
"I knew I had to go strong on one of my three throws to get to the finals," Rossini said. "The throw of 56.61m put me into fifth, but I still knew I had to try and move up in the finals. I threw quick enough to throw 57 or 58 meters today, so I know I can do that."
Rossini, having won the South American U-23 discus championship, knows that in order to place high at the outdoor championships he will have to come up with the best throw of his career.
"After competing with all the best throwers in the West in the same conditions, it is nice to know that I can hold my own," Rossini said. "I know I have to work very hard to try and throw 57 or 58 at nationals to put myself into the finals there. To do that would be nice."
Freshman Charles White, appearing in his first regional meet, leaped a career-best 50 feet, 3.5 inches in the men's triple jump competition. It was the first time over 50 feet for the recent Big Sky triple jump champion. He came into the event ranked No. 45, and improved greatly, finishing the year ranked 22nd in the region.
Also competing in her first regional meet was freshman Lauren Stuart. The Smithers, B.C. native threw 172 feet in the women's hammer throw to finish out her stellar freshman campaign ranked No. 40 in the region.
The four competitors advancing on to the national championships will have just over a week to prepare before heading to Eugene on June 8th.
