March 6, 2010
Complete Results
NOTRE DAME, Ind. - Sophomore
James Gilreath made the most of his last chance qualifier, breaking the Baylor school record and automatically qualifying with an 800-meter time of 1:48.00 at the Alex Wilson Invitational in Notre Dame, Ind.
"James is just on a roll," head coach Todd Harbour said. "We had some great things happen today with a bunch of PR's, but James just took the lead from the beginning and never let up. It is just great to see him compete like that and go after it."
Gilreath and teammate Chris Gowell each broke Gowell's school record of 1:48.26, but Gilreath was faster on the day at 1:48.00. That time also precisely meets the NCAA automatic qualifying time for next week's NCAA Championships, becoming Baylor's second individual to automatically qualify. Gilreath placed third in the meet, two spots ahead of Gowell's 1:48.23. Gowell, provisionally qualified, will wait to see if he is included in the NCAA field for the 800 meters.
In other action on the day, Diamond Richardson beat a talented field for first place in the women's 400 meters with a time of 53.88, her season best. Also for the women, Cate Westenhover placed eighth in the mile with a time of 4:47.04 and Stephanie Morgan placed 13th in the 800 meters with a time of 2:09.86.
For the men, Michael Liggins was fifth in the 400 meters at 47.22 and Ben Haby ran a career-best in the mile with a time of 4:06.41.
Baylor will be back in action at the NCAA Indoor Track and Field Championships in Fayetteville, Ark., from March 11-12. Gilreath, Whitney Prevost (200 meters) and the men's 4x400-meter relay are all automatically qualified, while a contingent of provisionally qualified athletes will wait to see if they are included when the NCAA releases the field for each event.
