FULLERTON, Calif. – Three of the five Titan Track and Field NCAA qualifiers competed on the opening day of the 2014 NCAA West Regional Championships, with Katie 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 Sims competed 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.
Day two of regional action will feature Ashley Sims and Janaya Shorty, as they will both compete in the 200-meter dash prelims at 6:25 on Friday. On Saturday, the Titans will be represented by Wilson, Sims, Shorty, and Alexandria Stewart in the 4x100m relay.
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
200-meter dash: Friday, May 30, 2014 @ 6:25 p.m.
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: Friday, May 30, 2014 @ 6:25 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.