Akron's Garretson and Gross Capture Berths Into NCAA Track and Field Championships

Wednesday, May 24

Jacksonville, Fla.

University of Akron

NCAA East Preliminary Round Championships

Akron's Garretson and Gross Capture Berths Into NCAA Track and Field Championships

May 24 | Track & Field

NCAA EAST PRELIMINARY ROUND: WEDNESDAY RESULTS (PDF) | MEET INFORMATION | SCHEDULE OF EVENTS | LIVE STATS | WEDNESDAY LIVE VIDEO | THURSDAY LIVE VIDEO | FRIDAY LIVE VIDEO | SATURDAY LIVE VIDEO | 2023 NCAA EAST PRELIMINARY ROUND MEN'S QUALIFYING LIST | 2023 NCAA EAST PRELIMINARY ROUND WOMEN'S QUALIFYING LIST

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – The University of Akron Track and Field program earned a pair of berths to the NCAA Outdoor Track and Field Championships in Austin, Texas (June 7-10) as redshirt sophomores Hunter Garretson (Newcomerstown, Ohio) and William Gross (Newfane, N.Y.) posted qualifying marks on the opening day of the NCAA East Preliminary Round Track and Field Championships hosted by the University of North Florida on Wednesday, May 24.

HOW IT HAPPENED:
• Gross garnered his first career NCAA Championship berth in the men's hammer posting a season-best qualifying mark of 216-5 (65.97m). His performance captured the 12th and final qualifying mark to advance to the semifinal round at 9 p.m. ET on June 7 in Austin, Texas.
• Garretson returns to the NCAA Championships in the men's pole vault after eclipsing the qualifying mark of 17-8.50 (5.40m). After clearing his opening bar of 17-4.50 (5.30m) on his opening attempt, Garretson needed all three runs at 17-8.50 (5.40m) to best the qualifying bar. The finals of the men's pole vault will take place at 7:30 p.m. ET on Wednesday, June 7 in Austin, Texas.
• Redshirt senior Charles Sanders (Cincinnati, Ohio) posted an automatic qualifying time of 46.80 in opening round of the men's 400 meters to move into the quarterfinal round on Friday, May 26 at 6:50 p.m.
• Redshirt sophomore Jimmy Harkelroad (Huron, Ohio) narrowly missed advancing in the men's 400-meter hurdles crossing the line in 51.86, to finish two spots shy of a top-24 qualifying performance.
• Redshirt junior Jabari Neal-Jackson (Cincinnati, Ohio) and redshirt senior Milton Wilson (Streetsboro, Ohio) added marks of 207-8 (63.31m) and 190-10 (58.18m), respectively, in the men's hammer.
• Juniors Dimitrije Novakovic (Belgrade, Serbia) and Haruki Sakai (Katori, Japan) recorded marks of 23-8.75 (7.23m) and 23-5.25 (7.14m), respectively, in the men's long jump.
• Sophomore Oscar Prieto (Barcelona, Spain) eclipsed 16-6.75 (5.05m) in the men's pole vault.

UP NEXT:
Competition at the NCAA East Preliminary Round on Thursday, May 25.

WEDNESDAY MEN'S FINALS RESULTS:
Hammer: William Gross (12th-216-5/65.97m), Jabari Neal-Jackson (18th-207-8/63.31m), Milton Wilson (39th-190-10/58.18m); Long Jump: Dimitrije Novakovic (33rd-23-8.75/7.23m), Haruki Sakai (38th-23-5.25/7.14m); Pole Vault: Hunter Garretson (17-8.50/5.40m), Oscar Prieto (33rd-16-6.75/5.05m), Robert Artrip (NH)

WEDNESDAY MEN'S PRELIMINARY RESULTS:
400 Meters: Charles Sanders (21st-46.80Q); 400-Meter Hurdles: Jimmy Harkelroad (26th-51.86)

* denotes career-best time
Q denotes automatic qualifying time