FULLERTON, Calif. – Freshman Janaya Shorty was finally able to showcase her talents in the 200-meter dash Friday night on day two of the NCAA West Regionals at John McDonnell as she advanced to Saturday's quarterfinals.
Shorty finished third in heat five and 19th overall, running a personal best time of 23.85 in the women's 200-meter dash prelims. Senior Ashley Sims also competed in the women's 200-meter dash prelims, recording a mark of 24.60 and placed seventh in heat four and 38th overall. However, Sims did not qualify for tomorrow's quarterfinals.
Saturday's 200-meter quarterfinal race will start at 5:50 p.m. PT. The Titans are also set to run in the 4x100m relay at 4:15 p.m. PT as a team of Katie Wilson, Alexandria Stewart, Sims, and Shorty will compete.
Thursday's Recap
Three of the five Titan Track and Field NCAA qualifiers competed on the opening day of the 2014 NCAA West Regional Championships, withKatie Wilson leading the way with her 40th place finish in the women's 400-meter dash prelims Thursday afternoon at John McDonnell Field in Fayetteville, Arkansas.
Wilson ran a time of 55.10 in the 400-meter dash and finished 40th overall , while senior Ashley Simscompeted in the 100-meter dash, finishing with a time of 12.03 and placing 40th overall. Fullerton also had junior Deena Pierce run in the 400-meter hurdles and saw her post a time of 1:04.32 to finish in 46th.
Thursday, marked the end of what was a very impressive 2014 campaign for Pierce as she didnt qualify for Friday's quarterfinals. Sims and Wilson also didn't qualify in their respective events, but are still set to compete in other events.
A Look at the Athletes Still Yet to Compete for the Titans…
Katie Wilson
4x100m Relay: Saturday, May 31, 2014 @ 4:15 p.m. PT
Wilson represented the Titans in the women's 400-meter dash and is still set to compete in the 4x100-meter relay. She qualified for the West Regionals in the 400m after posting a time of 53.64 at the Big West Championships. At the 2013 West Regionals, Wilson placed seventh in her respective heat and 40th overall after recording a time of 55.45.
Ashley Sims
4x100m Relay: Saturday, May 31, 2014 @ 4:15 p.m. PT
Sims qualified for both the 100 and 200-meter dash, thanks to her season best times of 11.76 and 23.91, respectively. The senior sprinter had ran her season-best time in the 100-meter dash last weekend at the Big West Championships and is ranked 69th in the NCAA West Region, while her 200-meter dash (23.91) mark was set on May 3 at the Steve Scott Invitational where she placed fourth.
The Granada Hills, Calif., native competed last year in the 200-meter dash at the West Regionals. After waiting through weather delays, Sims finished sixth in her heat and 42ndoverall, running a time of 24.67.
Janaya Shorty
200-meter dash quarterfinals: Saturday, May 31, 2014 @ 5:50 p.m.
4x100m Relay: Saturday, May 31, 2014 @ 4:15 p.m. PT
The Victorville, Calif., native qualified, thanks to her personal best time of 23.86 last weekend at the Big West Championships. Her time ends up being ranked 64th in the NCAA West Region and the fourth fastest in the Big West.
Alexandria Stewart
4x100m Relay: Saturday, May 31, 2014 @ 4:15 p.m. PT
Stewart has been a force for the Titans all season in the 100-meter and 200-meter dash, as well as a key contributor on the relay teams. She will help guide the Titans in the 4x100m relay race to another first place finish like last weekend at the Big West Championships.