Aquilla produces facility record at East Regional, will be joined in Oregon by Oladipo and Olatoye; Chelangat achieves top performance in 10,000 meters, with Bryant, Carter and Fluker also securing best qualifying marks in Florida

By Erik Boal, DyeStat Editor

When Adelaide Aquilla won the NCAA Division 1 Indoor shot put title in March, it was a breakthrough performance for the Ohio State standout following more than three years of working with coach Ashley Kovacs.

The Buckeyes demonstrated Thursday they have an outstanding supporting cast training under Kovacs as well, as Aquilla prevailed at the East Regional at Visit Jax Track at Hodges Stadium in Jacksonville, Fla., with a facility-record 60 feet, 11.50 inches (18.58m) on her second attempt, with teammates Divine Oladipo and Sade Olatoye also advancing to the June 10 final at the Division 1 Outdoor Championships at Hayward Field in Eugene, Ore.

Aquilla surpassed the 2016 performance of 58-9.25 (17.91m) by Harvard’s Nikki Okwelogu, as the Big Ten Conference showcased its strength, with Indiana’s Khayla Dawson and Madison Pollard also qualifying.

Dawson had a mark of 58-1.25 (17.71m), Pollard produced an effort of 57-6.25 (17.53m), with Oladipo achieving a performance of 55-1 (16.79m) and Olatoye returning to outdoor nationals by throwing 54-8.75 (16.68m).

Alabama also had two qualifiers with Taylor Gorum at 55-3 (16.84m) and Nickolette Dunbar achieving a mark of 54-11.25 (16.74m).

Virginia freshman Maria Deaviz secured the final qualifying berth with a 54-2.50 (16.52m) effort.

Alabama’s Mercy Chelangat, the reigning Division 1 cross country champion, also eclipsed the facility record in the 10,000 by clocking 33:06.83. Notre Dame’s Anna Rohrer had run 33:07.90 at the 2019 regional.

Chelangat prevailed by more than 10 seconds, as eight of the 12 athletes to advance ran under 34 minutes. Syracuse had two qualifiers with Amanda Vestri (33:32.71) and Annie Heffernan (33:39.84).

Michigan State also had a pair of competitors advance, with India Johnson running 33:48.22 and Lynsie Gram securing the final spot by clocking 34:09.78.

The top two women’s javelin throwers in the country comfortably advanced, with Auburn senior Kylee Carter – the 2019 Division 1 outdoor runner-up – producing a performance of 183-9 (56.01m) and collegiate leader Marie-Therese Obst of Georgia qualifying with an effort of 179 feet (54.56m).

Florida International freshman Rhema Otabor earned the final qualifying berth at 164-10 (50.25m).

There was more SEC strength on display in the long jump, with Florida freshman Claire Bryant achieving a wind-legal mark of 21-9.50 (6.64m), Georgia’s Jasmine Moore right behind with a wind-aided 21-9 (6.63m) effort and LSU’s Aliyah Whisby also producing a leap of 21-9, with a legal wind reading.

Virginia freshman Jada Seaman earned the final spot to compete at the nationals in Oregon by jumping 20-5.25 (6.23m).

LSU’s Lisa Gunnarsson, the reigning Division 1 indoor pole vault champion, was among seven competitors to clear 14 feet (4.27m), in addition to Georgia graduate student-athlete Kayla Smith. Five additional athletes achieved first-attempt clearances at 13-8.25 (4.17m).

South Alabama’s Autavia Fluker was the only competitor in the women’s hammer throw to surpass the 70-meter mark, with the senior prevailing at 229-9 (70.02m).

LSU freshman Emma Robbins added more depth to the Tigers’ team title pursuits by qualifying at 216-9 (66.06m), with North Carolina’s Jillian Shippee the 12th competitor to advance with a throw of 210-6 (64.16m).

Virginia’s Michaela Meyer achieved the facility record in the 800 by clocking 2:02.19 in her first-round performance.

LSU senior Tonea Marshall ran a wind-aided 12.49 in the opening round of the 100-meter hurdles.

Alabama standout Amaris Tyynismaa clocked a personal-best 4:11.45 in the first round of the 1,500.

North Carolina A&T’s Cambrea Sturgis ran a wind-legal 11.01 in her opener in the 100-meter dash.

Kentucky standout Abby Steiner, who equaled the collegiate indoor 200-meter record, raced the event for only the second time during the outdoor season as a result of a leg injury and was unable to advance past the first round, clocking 23.59.