AUSTIN, Texas — Utah State track and field senior thrower Lindsey Spencer will continue her historic season as she threw the hammer 61.34m (201-03) to place 11th on the final day of the first round of the NCAA Outdoor Track & Field Championships at Mike A. Myers Track & Field Stadium in Austin, Texas.
With the finish, Spencer qualified to move on to the finals of the 2012 NCAA Outdoor Championships at Drake Stadium in Des Moines, Iowa, which will be hosted by Drake University Wednesday through Saturday, June 6-9.
Spencer is the first USU athlete to move on to the finals of the NCAA Outdoor Track & Field Championships since Nick Karren and Clint Silcock represented Utah State in 2010. Spencer is also only the fourth Aggie in the last five years to advance to the finals, also joining Krista Larson who advanced in 2009.
Spencer set the school record in both the discus and hammer events this season, with marks of 54.48m (178-09) and 61.99m (203-04), respectively. She also won the WAC hammer title on May 11.
Also in competition for the Aggies were senior Daniel Howell who ran a 15:12.85 in the 5,000m to finish 45th and sophomore Bryce Hall who tossed the discus 47.48m (155-10), which was also good enough for 45th-place.
“It has been a great run and I am proud of the athletes for making it this far, especially for Lindsey moving on to the final round, that is a great accomplishment and she is well deserving of that honor,” said USU veteran head coach Gregg Gensel. “Sometimes things do not always go your way, but the athletes who are not moving on will be able to pick up and move on from this. It is a great accomplishment for all the athletes and our program to have athletes competing at this level.”
Utah State’s women completed a sweep of the 2012 WAC Track & Field Championships as they won their first WAC Indoor title in February and their first WAC Outdoor title on May 11. The Aggie men and women collected 37 first-team all-WAC honors and and 40 second-team all-WAC accolades at the 2012 Outdoor Track & Field Championships. Spencer was also named the women’s WAC Outstanding Field Performer, while Gensel was named the women’s WAC Coach of the Year and the men’s WAC Co-Coach of the Year. Gensel has received 38 conference Coach of the Year honors during his 24 year tenure at Utah State.
The finals for the 2012 NCAA Outdoor Track & Field Championships will be held on June 6-9 at Drake Stadium in Des Moines, Iowa. Information for the finals will be available for fans to view at <a href=”http://www.ncaa.com/” target=”_blank”>www.ncaa.com</a>.
Fans can follow Utah State Athletics, including USU track & field and cross country, at <a href=”http://twitter.com/USUAthletics” target=”_blank”>http://twitter.com/USUAthletics</a> or on Facebook at Utah State University Athletics.
<strong>UTAH STATE RESULTS
NCAA CHAMPIONSHIPS – FIRST ROUND
AUSTIN, TEXAS
MAY 26, 2012</strong>
<strong>WOMEN:</strong>
Hammer – 11. Lindsey Spencer, 61.34m (201-03)
<strong>MEN:</strong>
5,000m – 45. Daniel Howell, 15:12.85
Discus – 45. Bryce Hall, 47.49m (155-10)