Utah State’s Sindri Gudmundsson punches ticket to NCAA Outdoor Track & Field Finals

AUSTIN, Texas – Heading into the NCAA West Preliminary Outdoor Track & Field Championships, Utah State javelin thrower Sindri Gudmundsson had placed first in all four meets he competed in.

Nothing changed Thursday as the redshirt freshman opened the West Prelims by capturing the top spot in the men’s javelin and punching his ticket to the NCAA Finals with a throw of 76.18 meters (249-11).

Gudmundsson was the second competitor in the third flight. His first throw of the day went 71.45m (234-5). He then passed on his third throw. How did the native of Kopavogur, Iceland, feel about his outing?

“I got one good one,” Gudmundsson said. “Expect problems in your life and then eat them for breakfast. The day was awesome. It was hot and the wind was great. I decided this morning that the day was going to go well and it did. Warm-ups felt great and I was very confident for the competition.

“My first throw was pretty good, but I knew I had a good one in me for the day and I just wanted to 100 percent secure my spot to Eugene, Ore. I had a blast today and I liked throwing here in Texas.”

Devin Wright, who graduated earlier this month, saw his Utah State career officially end as the native of Monticello, Utah, placed 20th in the first round of the javelin with a mark of 63.79m (209-03). It marked his best-ever finish in four tries at the West Prelims.

Senior AJ Boully advanced to the quarterfinals of the men’s 400-meter hurdles after placing second in his heat with a time of 51.45. He placed eighth overall. Fellow hurdler, sophomore Samuel Wing, finished 48th with a time of 55.59 in the first round.

Junior Clay Lambourne secured his spot in the quarterfinals of the 800 meters by placing third in his first-round heat and ninth overall with a time of 1:50.35.

The final two Aggies to compete on the men’s side were junior Brady Martin and freshman Michael Bluth in the 400-meter dash. Bluth finished 34th with a time of 47.41 and Martin placed 45th with a time of 49.18.

On the women’s side, junior Tylee Newman-Skinner just missed advancing to the quarterfinals of the women’s 1,500 meters. The native of Monteview, Idaho, needed to place in the top-five of her heat in order to move on, but finished sixth with a time of 4:31.56. She finished 23rd overall.

The West Prelims continue Friday with a slew of track events, beginning with the first round of the women’s 100m hurdles at 3:30 p.m. (MT). Field events get underway at 11 a.m. (MT) with the first round of the women’s discus.

Seven Aggies will be in action Friday, beginning with Lambourne competing in the quarterfinals of the 800m, which begin at 5:30 p.m. (MT). Boully will try to book his trip to Eugene when he takes part in the quarterfinals of the 400m hurdles at 6:15 p.m.

Graduate transfer Joshua Gordon will compete in the first round of the men’s 200-meter dash at 6:55 p.m., followed by junior Tori Parkinson and sophomore Cierra Simmons in the quarterfinals of the women’s 3,000m steeplechase at 7:20 p.m.

Senior Colby Wilson and sophomore Spencer Fehlberg will be the final two Aggies competing on Friday as that duo will take part in the quarterfinals of the men’s 3,000m steeplechase at 8 p.m.

Fans can follow the Utah State track & field programs at twitter.com/USUTF_XC, on Facebook at USUTrack and on Instagram at instagram.com/USUTF_XC. Aggies fans can also follow the Utah State athletic program at twitter.com/USUAthletics or on Facebook at Utah State University Athletics.

<strong>UTAH STATE RESULTS</strong>

<strong>NCAA OUTDOOR CHAMPIONSHIPS, WEST PRELIMS</strong>

<strong>AUSTIN, TEXAS</strong>

<strong>MAY 25, 2017</strong>

<strong>WOMEN’S RESULTS:</strong>

1,500m (first round) – 23. Tylee Newman-Skinner, 4:31.56.

<strong>MEN’S RESULTS:</strong>

400m (first round) – 34. Michael Bluth, 47.41; 45. Brady Martin, 49.18.

800m (first round) – 9. Clay Lambourne, 1:50.35Q.

400m Hurdles (first round) – 8. AJ Boully, 51.45Q; 48. Samuel Wing, 55.59.

Javelin (first round) – 1. Sindri Gudmundsson, 76.18 (249-11)q; 20. Devin Wright, 63.79m (209-3).

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