June 11, 2003
SACRAMENTO, Calif. - Pole vaulter Pooh Williams, hammer thrower Keith McBride and shot put specialist Nedzad Mulabegovic advanced to the finals of their respective events after passing Wednesday's qualifying heats at the NCAA Track and Field Championships in Sacramento, Calif.
Williams survived his qualifying round after clearing both 5.00 and 5.15 (16-4 3/4) meter marks on his third and final attempts. Fifteen other competitors including Jeff Ryan of Southern California and Brigham Young freshman Robison Pratt will join the Purdue senior in Friday's final. Williams is the Big Ten's sole representative in the pole vault.
McBride earned the 12th and final spot for Friday's hammer throw championships after posting a launch of 62.46 (204-11). Georgia's Lucias MacKay led the field with an effort of 69.17 (226-11). Big Ten champion Adam Judge of Indiana settled for a ninth-place distance of 64.90 (212-11).
John Paul Smolenski finished 18th in the hammer throw with a mark of 59.57 (195-05).
Mulabegovic placed fifth in the shot put prelims with a push of 19.15 (62-10). The native Croatian will compete in Friday's finale alongside Big 12 Champion Christian Cantwell of Missouri (20.79; 68-2 1/2), Big Ten Champion Dan Taylor of Ohio State (20.20; 66-3 1/4) and several others.
Scott Hecht missed the cut by a half meter. The junior, who had won several shot put titles this season, tied for 19th at 17.53 (57-6 1/4).
The men's 4x100-meter relay team of Kenneth Baxter, Jamar Green, Jacques Reeves and Prentice Stovall also failed to make the cut after placing tenth. However, the squad's prelim mark of 39.71 seconds ranks as one of the best in school history.
LSU won the 4x100 prelim with a mark of 38.84. The Tigers will be joined by TCU, Houston, Tennessee, Middle Tennessee State, Florida, Florida A&M and George Mason in Friday's championship. Eighth-place George Mason nipped the Boilermakers' time by just .06 seconds.
For complete results and schedule of events, track and field fans should access the NCAA Outdoor Track and Field Championships web site through www.ncaasports.com.