Bears Add 3 to NCAA Meet Roster

Bears Add 3 to NCAA Meet Roster Ray Stewart, Amanda Hunter and Men's 4x100 Relay Qualify

Ray Stewart in action Saturday

May 25, 2013




AUSTIN, Texas - The Cal track & field team added three more entries to the NCAA Championships on the final day of the West Preliminary meet Saturday - Ray Stewart in the men's 110-meter hurdles, Amanda Hunter in the women's triple jump and the men's 4x100-meter relay. In all, the Bears will be entered in five events at nationals, including long jumpers Hammed Suleman and Amanda Hunter, who qualified on Thursday.

NCAA West Preliminary website | Live Results

"We had a mix of surprises and disappointment this weekend," director of track & field Tony Sandoval said. Ray Stewart ran conservatively on the hurdles and got the job done, as well as anchored the 4x100 relay. Amanda Hunter was outstanding in the triple jump."

Stewart, the Pac-12 champion in the 110 hurdles, cruised to victory in his heat in 13.65 to automatically qualify for the NCAA meet. His time was the second-fastest legal time and fourth fastest overall on the day.

In the women's triple jump, senior Amanda Hunter leapt a wind-aided 42-8.00 on her second attempt. Although she didn't improve on her additional tries, her mark was good enough for 10th place with the top 12 advancing to the national competition. Hunter's mark moves her up to No. 5 on Cal's all-time performer list.





The men's 4x100-meter relay of Julius Travis, Tom Blocker, Dash Oliver and Stewart was the beneficiary of a disqualification. Needing to place among the top three in their heat to advance, the Bears were fourth in 40.58. But Texas A&M's squad was disqualified for passing out of zone three, moving Cal up one position and into the NCAA meet. As a result, the Bears have a men's 4x100 relay at the NCAA Championships for the first time since 1977.

Suleman, the top seed in the triple jump, had trouble finding the board on his attempts and did not advance out of his flight to the finals, settling for a long jump NCAA appearance only. In the women's 5000 meters, Kelsey Santisteban ran with the lead pack much of the way, but took eighth in her heat and did not advance.

The NCAA Championships will be held June 5-8 in Eugene, Ore.

NCAA West Preliminary Meet
Mike A. Myers Stadium / Austin, Texas

Complete Results

California Results

Men
1500m - 24. Jordan Locklear 3:55.05

110m hurdles - 3. Ray Stewart 13.65Q

4x100m relay - 9. Julius Travis, Tom Blocker, Dash Oliver, Ray Stewart 40.58Q

Triple Jump - 23. Chad Jones 50-0.50 (15.25m); 32. Hammed Suleman 49-1.00 (14.96m); Taylor Kientzel NM

Hammer - 30. Scott Esparza 189-8 (57.82m); 36. Isaac Dan 181-7 (55.35m)

Women
200m - 22. Charnell Price 24.15

5000m - 18. Kelsey Santisteban 16:34.84

4x100m relay - 20. Carisma Lyday, Charnell Price, Esther Higgwe, Alima Kamara 45.61

Triple Jump - 10. Amanda Hunter 42-8.00w (13.00m)Q

Shot Put - 28. Chioma Amaechi 50-9.25 (15.47m)

Q - qualified for NCAA Championships