Thursday, May 25
Lexington, Ky.
11:30 AM
Bowling Green State University
at
NCAA East Region Preliminary Round
Walny Punches Ticket To Nationals In 10,000
May 25, 2017 | Women's Track and Field
Lexington, Ky. – Redshirt sophomore Rachel Walny broke her own school record in the 10,000 and used a late surge to earn a spot to the NCAA Division I Outdoor Track & Field National Championships. Walny finished 11th in 33:55.49 on the first day of the NCAA Division I East Region Preliminary, hosted by the University of Kentucky.
Walny was one of two Falcons to compete in the regional meet during the day. Redshirt senior Kayla Velasquez capped a tremendous career with a 41st place finish in the hammer throw.
Walny entered the meet as the No. 18 seed and needed to finish amongst the top 12 to earn a spot at the national championships. She stayed in the lead pack for much of the race but sat in 15th with eight laps (two miles) remaining. She quickly climbed to 13th but stalled there until the final two laps. Walny was able to use a strong kick over the final two laps to move all the way up to 11th.
"She ran a savvy race in her first time at the regional," BGSU Track & Field Coach Lou Snelling said. "There was a ton of traffic early, then once the race picked up, she put herself in a great spot and didn't panic as the pack broke up. Her last 1,000 meters was huge. It was a very gritty effort."
Her result means that the Falcons will send at least one representative to the national championships for the fifth straight year. Brooke Pleger advanced in the hammer throw in 2013, 2014 and 2015, while Aliyah Gustafson qualified in the shot put in 2016.
Walny is the first BGSU qualifier in the 10,000 since Cheri Triner finished ninth in 1993. The only other BGSU runner to compete at the national championships in the 10,000 was Sara Collas in 1986, placing 19th. Tracy Losi is the last distance runner to compete at the national championships, doing so in the 5,000 in 1995.
The top 12 finishers from the East Regional will meet the top 12 finishers from the West Regional for a field of 24. The 10,000 national championship will take place Thursday, June 8 at 10:08 pm ET at historic Hayward Field in Eugene, Ore. Walny's time of 33:55.49 would have won the West Region Preliminary Round Thursday, held in Austin, Texas and hosted by the University of Texas.
In the other event of the day that featured a Falcon, Velasquez battled wind and rain to compete in the hammer throw. Originally scheduled to start at 11:30 am, the event was delayed until 2 pm because of the rain. Velasquez, who was seeded No. 41 out of the 48 competitors, opened with a throw of 51.40m (168-feet-8) and closed with her best toss of the day at 52.75m (173-0).
The results continue a positive trend under sixth-year head coach Snelling. During his tenure, the Falcons have competed at the regional preliminary round 18 times. In 17 of those performances, a BGSU student-athlete has equaled or exceeded their seed.
BGSU will compete two more times at the NCAA East Region Preliminary Round. Senior Makenzie Wheat and redshirt junior Aliyah Gustafson will take part in the shot put Saturday at 6 pm. Gustafson placed 12th a year ago and earned the final spot from the East to the national championships.
NCAA East Region Preliminary Round
BGSU Results
Hammer throw – 41. Kayla Velasquez 52.75m (173-0)
10,000 – 11. Rachel Walny 33:55.49
Walny was one of two Falcons to compete in the regional meet during the day. Redshirt senior Kayla Velasquez capped a tremendous career with a 41st place finish in the hammer throw.
Walny entered the meet as the No. 18 seed and needed to finish amongst the top 12 to earn a spot at the national championships. She stayed in the lead pack for much of the race but sat in 15th with eight laps (two miles) remaining. She quickly climbed to 13th but stalled there until the final two laps. Walny was able to use a strong kick over the final two laps to move all the way up to 11th.
"She ran a savvy race in her first time at the regional," BGSU Track & Field Coach Lou Snelling said. "There was a ton of traffic early, then once the race picked up, she put herself in a great spot and didn't panic as the pack broke up. Her last 1,000 meters was huge. It was a very gritty effort."
Her result means that the Falcons will send at least one representative to the national championships for the fifth straight year. Brooke Pleger advanced in the hammer throw in 2013, 2014 and 2015, while Aliyah Gustafson qualified in the shot put in 2016.
Walny is the first BGSU qualifier in the 10,000 since Cheri Triner finished ninth in 1993. The only other BGSU runner to compete at the national championships in the 10,000 was Sara Collas in 1986, placing 19th. Tracy Losi is the last distance runner to compete at the national championships, doing so in the 5,000 in 1995.
The top 12 finishers from the East Regional will meet the top 12 finishers from the West Regional for a field of 24. The 10,000 national championship will take place Thursday, June 8 at 10:08 pm ET at historic Hayward Field in Eugene, Ore. Walny's time of 33:55.49 would have won the West Region Preliminary Round Thursday, held in Austin, Texas and hosted by the University of Texas.
In the other event of the day that featured a Falcon, Velasquez battled wind and rain to compete in the hammer throw. Originally scheduled to start at 11:30 am, the event was delayed until 2 pm because of the rain. Velasquez, who was seeded No. 41 out of the 48 competitors, opened with a throw of 51.40m (168-feet-8) and closed with her best toss of the day at 52.75m (173-0).
The results continue a positive trend under sixth-year head coach Snelling. During his tenure, the Falcons have competed at the regional preliminary round 18 times. In 17 of those performances, a BGSU student-athlete has equaled or exceeded their seed.
BGSU will compete two more times at the NCAA East Region Preliminary Round. Senior Makenzie Wheat and redshirt junior Aliyah Gustafson will take part in the shot put Saturday at 6 pm. Gustafson placed 12th a year ago and earned the final spot from the East to the national championships.
NCAA East Region Preliminary Round
BGSU Results
Hammer throw – 41. Kayla Velasquez 52.75m (173-0)
10,000 – 11. Rachel Walny 33:55.49
Players Mentioned
Throws
/ Women's Track and Field
Throws
/ Women's Track and Field
Distance
/ Women's Track and Field
Throws
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