Seven NC State track and field athletes qualify for nationals

The spring semester ended for students in early May. But for the best track and field athletes, their season persists well into June.

May 28-31, a group of 13 NC State track and field athletes made the trip to Jacksonville, Florida to compete in the NCAA DI Outdoor Track & Field East Region First Round, with seven qualifying for nationals.

The NCAA Division I Men’s and Women’s Track and Field and Cross Country Committee selects the top athletes across the nation to compete in the first-round regionals, one taking place in Jacksonville, Florida at the University of North Florida; the other being held in College Station, Texas at Texas A&M University. The setting for the national championship will be Eugene, Oregon.

As Wolfpack fans have come to expect, junior Grace Hartman did Grace Hartman things in both events she ran, first shattering the University of North Florida facility record in the 10,000 meter by a whole 34 seconds with a time of 32:32.80, grabbing her first spot in Eugene. Next, she beat the 5000-meter facility record — set by NC State alumna Katelyn Tuohy in 2023 — securing another berth in the national championship with a time of 15:23.52.

Not too far behind in the 5000 meter, senior Sam Bush qualified for nationals with a mark of 15:28.10 placing sixth. Freshman Bethany Michalak, 16 seconds short of qualification in the event, finished 19th with a time of 15:49.82.

Freshman Mariama Hunt did just enough in the women’s long jump with a mark of 6.11m — securing the 12th and final spot in the women’s long jump championship field.

Sophomore Tyson Adams leapt 7.61m in the men’s long jump, securing a spot in the national championship field with a fifth place finish.

Senior Patrick Tuohy clocked a time of 1:46.60 in the quarterfinals of the 800 meter placing eighth, and earning a trip to Eugene.

In the men’s steeplechase, graduate Brett Gardner made one last push to close out a stellar collegiate career, securing seventh in the 300-meter event with a time of 8:37.63.

Sophomore Angelina Napoleon finished second in the women’s steeplechase with a mark of 9:37.42, rounding out the list of those qualified for the National Championship in Euguene.

Sophomore Xavier Branker and freshman James Coleman both competed in the men’s 400-meter hurdles, placing 35th and 38th respectively with times of 52.04 and 52.63. Both failed to qualify for the quarterfinals.

Senior Luke Thierfelder competed in the men’s javelin event, launching the pointy rod 58.27m to place 43rd in a field of 48 participants.

Bush and sophomore Kate Putman competed in the first round of the women’s 1500 meter. Bush did not qualify for the quarterfinal with a 30th place finish in the first round and a time of 4:18.33. Putman did qualify for the quarterfinal but fell three seconds outside of the top 12, closing the season with a mark of 4:13.58.

Sophomore Jayda Hunter and Hunt competed in the women’s triple jump, both falling short of the qualification mark. Hunt placed 28th with a mark of 12.50m, while Hunter placed 34th with a mark of 12.41m.

The 2025 DI Outdoor Track and Field Championships will take place at Hayward Field June 11-14 in Eugene, Oregon.