O’Neal punches ticket to Nationals on Day One of NCAA West Preliminary

O’Neal punches ticket to Nationals on Day One of NCAA West Preliminary

05/23/2019 | 10:12:00 | Track and Field

O'Neal is the 20th Saluki hammer thrower to qualify for the national meet since the regional format was adopted in 2010.

By: Will Becque, SIUSalukis.com

Shauniece O'Neal punched her ticket to the 2019 NCAA Outdoor Championships in Austin, Texas in the hammer throw on day one at the 2019 NCAA Outdoor Track and Field West Preliminary Round in Sacramento, Calif.

In addition to O'Neal qualifying for the national meet for the first time in her career, Bri'Anna Branch moved through to tomorrow's 100-meter dash quarterfinal.

O'Neal took seventh in the hammer throw with a toss of 203'-6" (62.02m). SIU men's and women's throwers have combined to advance to the NCAA Championship meet 20 times in the event since the NCAA adopted the current regional format in 2010.

Branch took third in her 100-meter dash heat to automatically advance to tomorrow's quarterfinal. The Chicago, Ill. native ran 11.59, taking third in her heat to SMU's Chelsea Francis and San Diego State's Callista Fletcher. Branch's time was the 19th-best time of the first round.

Four Salukis fell just short of qualifying for the national meet. Competing but not advancing for Southern was: Nate Dyer (hammer throw, 16th place, 207'-3"), Alexis Roberson (hammer throw, 24th, 193'-2"), Ricky Hurley (hammer throw, 37th, 192'-0"), Tyjuana Eason (100m dash, 44th, 11.94) and Josh Maier (10K, 20th, 29:23.80).

O'Neal is up first for the Salukis on day two at the NCAA West Preliminary, as the Florissant, Mo. native will throw the discus beginning at 2 p.m. CT. Nikki Freeman will also compete alongside O'Neal in the discus while Theo Phipps will get things started on the track at 7 p.m. CT in the first round of the 110-meter hurdles. Branch will run in the quarterfinal of the 100m dash at 8 p.m. CT before running in the first round of the 200m dash at 9:30 p.m. CT. Kayla Schiera rounds out tomorrow's competitors in the 3K Steeplechase at 11 p.m. CT.