Wednesday, May 24
Sacramento, Calif.
University of Houston
vs
NCAA West Preliminary Round
Sampy Punches Ticket, Four Men Advance to Quarterfinals
5/25/2023 12:25:00 AM | Track and Field
Pole vaulter advances to Austin, Frilot becomes first Cougar to advance to quarterfinal in the 800 since 2016
SACRAMENTO, Calif. – Senior Christyan Sampy punched his ticket to Austin for the NCAA Championships and four Houston male track and field athletes advanced to Friday's quarterfinal round of the NCAA West Preliminary Round on Wednesday at Sacramento State.
Sampy only needed to clear two bar heights to punch his ticket to the NCAA Championships. Sampy cleared his opening bar height of 5.20 meters and then cleared 5.30 meters on his first attempt. Sampy advanced as the 10th-placed competitor even though he did not clear 5.40 meters due to the fact that he had taken one of the fewest attempts in the field.
The 110-meter hurdles pair of junior De'Vion Wilson and senior DJ Akindele advanced to Friday's quarterfinal in the event after placing in the top three of their respective heats. Wilson won his heat in 13.56, the second-fastest time of the day while Akindele finished second in his heat with the 14th-fastest time of the day at 13.79.
In his first of two events of the day, junior Shaun Maswanganyi cruised to a heat win to advance to the quarterfinal on Friday. Maswanganyi posted the second-fastest time of the event, crossing the finish line in 10.17.
The South African Olympian then cruised to another automatic qualifying time in the 200-meter dash by winning his heat with the second-fastest time of the day at 20.47.
In his first NCAA appearance of his collegiate career, junior Lloyd Frilot led for enough of his 800-meter race to finish fourth in his heat. Frilot then had to wait for four more heats to see if his 1:48.72 time would hold up. The time held as the third-fastest non-automatic qualifying time of the event. Frilot is the first Cougar to advance to the quarterfinals in the 800 since Brian Bell in 2016 with a time of 1:48.73. In 2016, there was only one round of the 800 at the NCAA West Preliminary Round with just the top 12 times advancing to the NCAA Championships.
Senior Trey Johnson finished his collegiate 400-meter dash career on Wednesday. Johnson will compete in the 1,600-meter relay for the Cougars on Friday.
Sophomore Dillon Leacock's season came to an end on Wednesday in the 400-meter hurdles. Leacock ran a time of 53.24 in his first NCAA appearance.
The pair of Wilson and Akindele also competed in the 400 hurdles but did not advance to Friday.
Junior Ireon Brown, in his first NCAA meet, ran 21.29 in the 200-meter dash but did not advance.
In the long jump, senior Benjamin Okafor jumped 7.30 meters on his first attempt of the day. Okafor concluded his career with his third-straight NCAA West Preliminary round trip.
UP NEXT
The Houston women get their NCAA competition on Thursday at Hornet Stadium. Hammer thrower Priscilla Adejokun will start things off for the Cougars at 12 p.m. CT. The men that advanced on Wednesday will aim to be inside the top 12 of the quarterfinal rounds on Friday for a ticket to the NCAA Championships in Austin, Texas June 7-10.
SUPPORT HOUSTON RISE
Join Houston Rise, a $150 million fundraising campaign for Houston Athletics dedicated to championship success in the Big 12 Conference. Every Houston Rise contribution prepares our Cougars to compete and win when we start Big 12 competition in July 2023. Click here to rise and be counted.
JOIN the PODIUM CLUB
The Podium Club serves as a unique and effective way to enhance the level of excitement and support for Houston Cougar Track and Field and Cross Country. Gifts to the Podium Club provide financial support directly to the programs for needs beyond their operating budgets.
Donations made to the Podium Club are used at the discretion of the head coach. For more information or to sign up, click here. To join the Podium Club, fans may call Cougar Pride at 713-743-GoUH (4687).
STAY CONNECTED
Fans can receive updates on #HTownSpeedCity by following @UHCougarTF on Twitter and catch up with the latest news and notes on the team by clicking LIKE on the team's Facebook page at UHCougarTF or on the team's Instagram page at @uhcougartf.
Sampy only needed to clear two bar heights to punch his ticket to the NCAA Championships. Sampy cleared his opening bar height of 5.20 meters and then cleared 5.30 meters on his first attempt. Sampy advanced as the 10th-placed competitor even though he did not clear 5.40 meters due to the fact that he had taken one of the fewest attempts in the field.
He's heading back to the National Championships! 🗣@ChristyanSampy punches his ticket to Austin.#HTownSpeedCity pic.twitter.com/8FHVQKx7ai
— #HTownSpeedCity (@UHCougarTF) May 25, 2023
The 110-meter hurdles pair of junior De'Vion Wilson and senior DJ Akindele advanced to Friday's quarterfinal in the event after placing in the top three of their respective heats. Wilson won his heat in 13.56, the second-fastest time of the day while Akindele finished second in his heat with the 14th-fastest time of the day at 13.79.
In his first of two events of the day, junior Shaun Maswanganyi cruised to a heat win to advance to the quarterfinal on Friday. Maswanganyi posted the second-fastest time of the event, crossing the finish line in 10.17.
The South African Olympian then cruised to another automatic qualifying time in the 200-meter dash by winning his heat with the second-fastest time of the day at 20.47.
In his first NCAA appearance of his collegiate career, junior Lloyd Frilot led for enough of his 800-meter race to finish fourth in his heat. Frilot then had to wait for four more heats to see if his 1:48.72 time would hold up. The time held as the third-fastest non-automatic qualifying time of the event. Frilot is the first Cougar to advance to the quarterfinals in the 800 since Brian Bell in 2016 with a time of 1:48.73. In 2016, there was only one round of the 800 at the NCAA West Preliminary Round with just the top 12 times advancing to the NCAA Championships.
Senior Trey Johnson finished his collegiate 400-meter dash career on Wednesday. Johnson will compete in the 1,600-meter relay for the Cougars on Friday.
Sophomore Dillon Leacock's season came to an end on Wednesday in the 400-meter hurdles. Leacock ran a time of 53.24 in his first NCAA appearance.
The pair of Wilson and Akindele also competed in the 400 hurdles but did not advance to Friday.
Junior Ireon Brown, in his first NCAA meet, ran 21.29 in the 200-meter dash but did not advance.
In the long jump, senior Benjamin Okafor jumped 7.30 meters on his first attempt of the day. Okafor concluded his career with his third-straight NCAA West Preliminary round trip.
UP NEXT
The Houston women get their NCAA competition on Thursday at Hornet Stadium. Hammer thrower Priscilla Adejokun will start things off for the Cougars at 12 p.m. CT. The men that advanced on Wednesday will aim to be inside the top 12 of the quarterfinal rounds on Friday for a ticket to the NCAA Championships in Austin, Texas June 7-10.
SUPPORT HOUSTON RISE
Join Houston Rise, a $150 million fundraising campaign for Houston Athletics dedicated to championship success in the Big 12 Conference. Every Houston Rise contribution prepares our Cougars to compete and win when we start Big 12 competition in July 2023. Click here to rise and be counted.
JOIN the PODIUM CLUB
The Podium Club serves as a unique and effective way to enhance the level of excitement and support for Houston Cougar Track and Field and Cross Country. Gifts to the Podium Club provide financial support directly to the programs for needs beyond their operating budgets.
Donations made to the Podium Club are used at the discretion of the head coach. For more information or to sign up, click here. To join the Podium Club, fans may call Cougar Pride at 713-743-GoUH (4687).
STAY CONNECTED
Fans can receive updates on #HTownSpeedCity by following @UHCougarTF on Twitter and catch up with the latest news and notes on the team by clicking LIKE on the team's Facebook page at UHCougarTF or on the team's Instagram page at @uhcougartf.
– UHCougars.com –
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