SACRAMENTO, Calif. – On Day Two of the NCAA Outdoor Track & Field West Preliminary Round, hosted by Sacramento State, redshirt senior Anderson Devonish punched his ticket to the 2018 NCAA Outdoor Track & Field Championships in the 400-meter dash.
"Anderson has persevered to the fullest extent," said Director of Track & Field and Cross Country Jeff Bovee. "After having an injury-riddled fourth year and red-shirting, he was determined to get back to where he was, and he has returned even stronger than before. He is having an incredible season, and it could not possibly be more well-deserved."
Competing against the indoor 400-meter world record holder Michael Norman, Devonish finished second in heat one in a personal-best 45.97 to secure an automatic qualifying spot to the NCAA Championships in Eugene, Oregon, June 6-9. Anderson's mark not only ranks second in ISU track & field history, but is also the seventh-fastest NCAA qualifying time in the West Region.
By accomplishing this feat, Devonish becomes the first Redbird to qualify for the NCAA Outdoor Track & Field Championships since Ryan Rutherford did so in the 2016 season. Devonish will be making his second appearance on the national stage, as he also competed in the 400-meter dash at the 2015 NCAA Outdoor Track & Field Championships.
Jaylan McConico also took care of business on the second day of the NCAA West Preliminary Round, winning his 110-meter hurdles heat in 13.81 to automatically advance to tomorrow's quarterfinals. He will compete at 9:05 p.m. CT with a trip to Eugene on the line.
D'Jenne Egharevba qualified for her second quarterfinal of the meet Friday, advancing to the quarterfinal round of the 200-meter dash. Running in her second race of the day, Egharevba posted a qualifying time of 23.71, breaking the ISU school record. She surpasses Lyn Cox's previous mark of 23.76 that was set in 2005. Egharevba will compete in the 200-meter quarterfinals tomorrow at 9:50 p.m. CT, as she aims to advance to the NCAA Championships.
Other Notable Performances
Women's 100-meter (Quarterfinals)
24th - D'Jenne Egharevba (11.66)
Women's 100-meter Hurdles (First Round)
28th - Demetria Anderson (13.70)
Women's 3,000-meter Steeplechase (Quarterfinal)
37th - Grace Beattie (10:28.22)
Women's Discus (First Round)
28th - Sydney Laufenberg (50.32m/165-01)
Men's 200-meter (First Round)
37th - Ben Montgomery (21.55)
The NCAA Division I Outdoor Track & Field West Preliminary Round will wrap-up tomorrow. Field events are slated to start at 2 p.m. CT, with running events following at 8 p.m. CT.
Redbird track & field fans can watch a live stream of the NCAA West Preliminary Round as FloTrack subscribers. Live stats will also be made available over the course of the meet. For live updates, follow the Redbird track & field Twitter account @Redbird_TrackXC. Full coverage will be available on GoRedbirds.com following the conclusion of each day of competition.
A list of Illinois State student-athletes that are competing Saturday is listed below (all times Central).
2 p.m. - Julia Bourke, Women's Hammer Throw First Round
6 p.m. - LaMont Allen, Francis Ehigbai, Men's High Jump First Round
8 p.m. - Jaylan McConico, Ben Montgomery, Andy Hatch, DeShaun Jordan, Men's 4x100-meter Relay Quarterfinal
8:15 p.m. - Emily Cowan, Kelsie Prear, Demetria Anderson, D'Jenne Egharevba, Women's 4x100-meter Relay Quarterfinal
8:30 p.m. - Jack Anstey, Men's 1,500-meter Quarterfinal
9:05 p.m. - Jaylan McConico, Men's 110-meter Hurdles Quarterfinal
9:50 p.m. - D'Jenne Egharevba, Women's 200-meter Quarterfinal
11:25 p.m. - Ben Montgomery, Brandon Gage, Avery Lyons, Anderson Devonish, Men's 4x400-meter Relay Quarterfinal
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