Three Falcons Qualify For NCAA East Region Preliminary Round In Six Events
May 17, 2018 | Women's Track and Field
Indianapolis, Ind. – The National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) announced today the qualifiers for the regional round of track and field competition. Bowling Green will send three competitors to the NCAA East Region Preliminary Round in six events with an opportunity to qualify for the NCAA Division I Outdoor Track & Field National Championships. The regional will take place in Tampa, Fla., hosted by USF, May 24-26.
In each of the events, 48 competitors qualify for the East regional. The top 12 finishers will join the top 12 finishers from the West regional for a field of 24 at the national championships. The NCAA Division I Outdoor Track & Field National Championships will take place June 6-9 in Eugene, Ore., hosted by the University of Oregon.
Redshirt senior Aliyah Gustafson became just the second student-athlete in program history to qualify for regionals in three events, doing so in the shot put, discus and hammer throw. She is a heavy favorite to advance to the national championships in the shot put, earning the No. 3 seed. She is also seeded No. 20 in the discus and No. 35 in the hammer throw.
Gustafson joins Whitney Hartman as the only student-athletes in BGSU history to qualify for three events in regional competition. Hartman qualified for the same three events in 2009.
Gustafson qualified for the national championships in the shot put in 2016. She placed 12th at regionals and 24th at the national championships. She also competed at the NCAA Indoor Track & Field National Championships in the shot put earlier this year, finishing 10th.
Senior Elizabeth Iversen will compete in both shot put and discus. She is seeded No. 32 in shot put and No. 40 in discus.
Redshirt junior Rachel Walny is also a favorite to advance to the national championships as she carries the No. 7 seed into the 10,000. Walny is the school-record holder in the event and qualified for the national championships a year ago by placing 11th after entering as the No. 18 seed. She placed 18th at the national championships.
Gustafson's No. 3 seed in the shot put is the highest among all Mid-American Conference qualifiers to the East regional. With a pair of top seven seeds, Bowling Green is one of just two programs from the MAC – Akron being the other – to have multiple student-athletes ranked that highly. Only six MAC student-athletes are seeded among the top seven in any event at the meet.
Under seventh-year coach Lou Snelling, the Falcons have sent 20 representatives to the regionals in the past six years. Student-athletes have equaled or better their seeds in 18 of those 20 appearances.
THURSDAY, MAY 24
8:00 pm – Shot put (3. Aliyah Gustafson, 32. Elizabeth Iversen)
9:40 pm – 10,000 (7. Rachel Walny)
FRIDAY, MAY 25
4:30 pm – Discus (20. Aliyah Gustafson, 40. Elizabeth Iversen)
SATURDAY, MAY 26
11:30 am - Hammer throw (35. Aliyah Gustafson)
ALIYAH GUSTAFSON
Aliyah Gustafson had one of the most dominant seasons in BGSU track and field history, breaking the school record in the shot put multiple times and ranking second in program history in both the hammer throw and discus. She won the MAC Championship in the shot put in both indoor and outdoor season, while she placed third in the discus and fourth in the hammer throw during the outdoor league championships.
HOW TO QUALIFY FOR NATIONALS
SHOT PUT
In the East region preliminary round, the shot put will be broken up into four flights of 12 competitors (top 12 in flight four, seeds 13-24 in flight three, seeds 25-36 in flight two, seeds 37-48 in flight one). Flights one and two will compete simultaneously on separate, but similar, competition venues, followed by flights three and four doing the same. Each of the 48 student-athletes will get three throws and the top 12 will advance to the NCAA National Championships.
HAMMER THROW
In the East region preliminary round, the hammer throw will be broken up into three flights of 16 competitors (top 16 in flight three, seeds 17-32 in flight two, seeds 33-48 in flight one). Each of the 48 student-athletes will get three throws and the top 12 will advance to the NCAA National Championships.
DISCUS
In the East region preliminary round, the discus will be broken up into three flights of 16 competitors (top 16 in flight three, seeds 17-32 in flight two, seeds 33-48 in flight one). Each of the 48 student-athletes will get three throws and the top 12 will advance to the NCAA National Championships.
GUSTAFSON'S NCAA REGIONAL HISTORY
Shot put – 2016, 12th place (53-0.75 / 16.17m)
Shot put – 2017, 39th place (48-0 / 14.63m)
NUMBERS TO KNOW
SHOT PUT
Date/Time of Competition – Thursday, May 24 / 8 pm
Gustafson's Seed - 3
Gustafson's Career and Season-Best Mark – 57-5.75 / 17.52m
2017 National Qualifying Mark – 53-7.5 / 16.34m
2018 No. 12 Seed Mark – 53-11.75 / 16.45m
HAMMER THROW
Date/Time of Competition – Saturday, May 26 / 11:30 am
Gustafson's Seed - 35
Gustafson's Career and Season-Best Mark – 191-0 / 58.21m
2017 National Qualifying Mark – 193-0 / 58.84m
2018 No. 12 Seed Mark – 205-0 / 62.48m
DISCUS
Date/Time of Competition – Friday, May 25 / 4:30 pm
Gustafson's Seed - 20
Gustafson's Career and Season-Best Mark – 171-11 / 52.42m
2017 National Qualifying Mark – 174-6 / 53.19m
2018 No. 12 Seed Mark – 177-11 / 54.23m
ELIZABETH IVERSEN
Elizabeth Iversen has had a tremendous 2018 season, impacting the finals in three events and qualifying for regionals in both the shot put and the discus. She earned a spot on the podium at the MAC Championships in two events, ranking fourth in school history in the shot put, sixth in discus and ninth in the hammer throw.
HOW TO QUALIFY FOR NATIONALS
SHOT PUT
In the East region preliminary round, the shot put will be broken up into four flights of 12 competitors (top 12 in flight four, seeds 13-24 in flight three, seeds 25-36 in flight two, seeds 37-48 in flight one). Flights one and two will compete simultaneously on separate, but similar, competition venues, followed by flights three and four doing the same. Each of the 48 student-athletes will get three throws and the top 12 will advance to the NCAA National Championships.
DISCUS
In the East region preliminary round, the discus will be broken up into three flights of 16 competitors (top 16 in flight three, seeds 17-32 in flight two, seeds 33-48 in flight one). Each of the 48 student-athletes will get three throws and the top 12 will advance to the NCAA National Championships.
IVERSEN'S NCAA REGIONAL HISTORY
First Appearance
NUMBERS TO KNOW
SHOT PUT
Date/Time of Competition – Thursday, May 24 / 8 pm
Iversen's Seed - 32
Iversen's Career and Season-Best Mark – 51-2.25 / 15.60m
2017 National Qualifying Mark – 53-7.5 / 16.34m
2018 No. 12 Seed Mark – 53-11.75 / 16.45m
DISCUS
Date/Time of Competition – Friday, May 25 / 4:30 pm
Iversen's Seed - 40
Iversen's Career and Season-Best Mark – 165-7 / 50.46m
2017 National Qualifying Mark – 174-6 / 53.19m
2018 No. 12 Seed Mark – 177-11 / 54.23m
RACHEL WALNY
Rachel Walny built upon a tremendous 2017 outdoor season by breaking her own school record in the 10,000 in 2018. She was the MAC runner-up in the 10,000 and finished on the podium in the 5,000 as well. After qualifying for the NCAA Outdoor Track & Field National Championships a year ago in the event, she will be one of the favorites to return as the No. 7 seed.
HOW TO QUALIFY FOR NATIONALS
10,000
In the East region preliminary round, all 48 qualifiers will run in one heat with a double waterfall start. The top 12 finishers will advance to the NCAA National Championships.
WALNY'S NCAA REGIONAL HISTORY
10,000 – 2017, 11th place (33:55.49)
NUMBERS TO KNOW
Date/Time of Competition – Thursday, May 24 / 9:40 pm
Walny's Seed - 7
Walny's Career-Best And Season-Best Time – 33:48.22
2017 National Qualifying Time – 33:59.39
2018 No. 12 Seed Time – 33:58.14
In each of the events, 48 competitors qualify for the East regional. The top 12 finishers will join the top 12 finishers from the West regional for a field of 24 at the national championships. The NCAA Division I Outdoor Track & Field National Championships will take place June 6-9 in Eugene, Ore., hosted by the University of Oregon.
Redshirt senior Aliyah Gustafson became just the second student-athlete in program history to qualify for regionals in three events, doing so in the shot put, discus and hammer throw. She is a heavy favorite to advance to the national championships in the shot put, earning the No. 3 seed. She is also seeded No. 20 in the discus and No. 35 in the hammer throw.
Gustafson joins Whitney Hartman as the only student-athletes in BGSU history to qualify for three events in regional competition. Hartman qualified for the same three events in 2009.
Gustafson qualified for the national championships in the shot put in 2016. She placed 12th at regionals and 24th at the national championships. She also competed at the NCAA Indoor Track & Field National Championships in the shot put earlier this year, finishing 10th.
Senior Elizabeth Iversen will compete in both shot put and discus. She is seeded No. 32 in shot put and No. 40 in discus.
Redshirt junior Rachel Walny is also a favorite to advance to the national championships as she carries the No. 7 seed into the 10,000. Walny is the school-record holder in the event and qualified for the national championships a year ago by placing 11th after entering as the No. 18 seed. She placed 18th at the national championships.
Gustafson's No. 3 seed in the shot put is the highest among all Mid-American Conference qualifiers to the East regional. With a pair of top seven seeds, Bowling Green is one of just two programs from the MAC – Akron being the other – to have multiple student-athletes ranked that highly. Only six MAC student-athletes are seeded among the top seven in any event at the meet.
Under seventh-year coach Lou Snelling, the Falcons have sent 20 representatives to the regionals in the past six years. Student-athletes have equaled or better their seeds in 18 of those 20 appearances.
THURSDAY, MAY 24
8:00 pm – Shot put (3. Aliyah Gustafson, 32. Elizabeth Iversen)
9:40 pm – 10,000 (7. Rachel Walny)
FRIDAY, MAY 25
4:30 pm – Discus (20. Aliyah Gustafson, 40. Elizabeth Iversen)
SATURDAY, MAY 26
11:30 am - Hammer throw (35. Aliyah Gustafson)
ALIYAH GUSTAFSON
Aliyah Gustafson had one of the most dominant seasons in BGSU track and field history, breaking the school record in the shot put multiple times and ranking second in program history in both the hammer throw and discus. She won the MAC Championship in the shot put in both indoor and outdoor season, while she placed third in the discus and fourth in the hammer throw during the outdoor league championships.HOW TO QUALIFY FOR NATIONALS
SHOT PUT
In the East region preliminary round, the shot put will be broken up into four flights of 12 competitors (top 12 in flight four, seeds 13-24 in flight three, seeds 25-36 in flight two, seeds 37-48 in flight one). Flights one and two will compete simultaneously on separate, but similar, competition venues, followed by flights three and four doing the same. Each of the 48 student-athletes will get three throws and the top 12 will advance to the NCAA National Championships.
HAMMER THROW
In the East region preliminary round, the hammer throw will be broken up into three flights of 16 competitors (top 16 in flight three, seeds 17-32 in flight two, seeds 33-48 in flight one). Each of the 48 student-athletes will get three throws and the top 12 will advance to the NCAA National Championships.
DISCUS
In the East region preliminary round, the discus will be broken up into three flights of 16 competitors (top 16 in flight three, seeds 17-32 in flight two, seeds 33-48 in flight one). Each of the 48 student-athletes will get three throws and the top 12 will advance to the NCAA National Championships.
GUSTAFSON'S NCAA REGIONAL HISTORY
Shot put – 2016, 12th place (53-0.75 / 16.17m)
Shot put – 2017, 39th place (48-0 / 14.63m)
NUMBERS TO KNOW
SHOT PUT
Date/Time of Competition – Thursday, May 24 / 8 pm
Gustafson's Seed - 3
Gustafson's Career and Season-Best Mark – 57-5.75 / 17.52m
2017 National Qualifying Mark – 53-7.5 / 16.34m
2018 No. 12 Seed Mark – 53-11.75 / 16.45m
HAMMER THROW
Date/Time of Competition – Saturday, May 26 / 11:30 am
Gustafson's Seed - 35
Gustafson's Career and Season-Best Mark – 191-0 / 58.21m
2017 National Qualifying Mark – 193-0 / 58.84m
2018 No. 12 Seed Mark – 205-0 / 62.48m
DISCUS
Date/Time of Competition – Friday, May 25 / 4:30 pm
Gustafson's Seed - 20
Gustafson's Career and Season-Best Mark – 171-11 / 52.42m
2017 National Qualifying Mark – 174-6 / 53.19m
2018 No. 12 Seed Mark – 177-11 / 54.23m
ELIZABETH IVERSEN
Elizabeth Iversen has had a tremendous 2018 season, impacting the finals in three events and qualifying for regionals in both the shot put and the discus. She earned a spot on the podium at the MAC Championships in two events, ranking fourth in school history in the shot put, sixth in discus and ninth in the hammer throw.HOW TO QUALIFY FOR NATIONALS
SHOT PUT
In the East region preliminary round, the shot put will be broken up into four flights of 12 competitors (top 12 in flight four, seeds 13-24 in flight three, seeds 25-36 in flight two, seeds 37-48 in flight one). Flights one and two will compete simultaneously on separate, but similar, competition venues, followed by flights three and four doing the same. Each of the 48 student-athletes will get three throws and the top 12 will advance to the NCAA National Championships.
DISCUS
In the East region preliminary round, the discus will be broken up into three flights of 16 competitors (top 16 in flight three, seeds 17-32 in flight two, seeds 33-48 in flight one). Each of the 48 student-athletes will get three throws and the top 12 will advance to the NCAA National Championships.
IVERSEN'S NCAA REGIONAL HISTORY
First Appearance
NUMBERS TO KNOW
SHOT PUT
Date/Time of Competition – Thursday, May 24 / 8 pm
Iversen's Seed - 32
Iversen's Career and Season-Best Mark – 51-2.25 / 15.60m
2017 National Qualifying Mark – 53-7.5 / 16.34m
2018 No. 12 Seed Mark – 53-11.75 / 16.45m
DISCUS
Date/Time of Competition – Friday, May 25 / 4:30 pm
Iversen's Seed - 40
Iversen's Career and Season-Best Mark – 165-7 / 50.46m
2017 National Qualifying Mark – 174-6 / 53.19m
2018 No. 12 Seed Mark – 177-11 / 54.23m
RACHEL WALNY
Rachel Walny built upon a tremendous 2017 outdoor season by breaking her own school record in the 10,000 in 2018. She was the MAC runner-up in the 10,000 and finished on the podium in the 5,000 as well. After qualifying for the NCAA Outdoor Track & Field National Championships a year ago in the event, she will be one of the favorites to return as the No. 7 seed.HOW TO QUALIFY FOR NATIONALS
10,000
In the East region preliminary round, all 48 qualifiers will run in one heat with a double waterfall start. The top 12 finishers will advance to the NCAA National Championships.
WALNY'S NCAA REGIONAL HISTORY
10,000 – 2017, 11th place (33:55.49)
NUMBERS TO KNOW
Date/Time of Competition – Thursday, May 24 / 9:40 pm
Walny's Seed - 7
Walny's Career-Best And Season-Best Time – 33:48.22
2017 National Qualifying Time – 33:59.39
2018 No. 12 Seed Time – 33:58.14
Players Mentioned
Throws
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