T&F: Women Punch Four More Tickets

Wednesday, May 27

Fayetteville, Arkansas

Baylor

NCAA West Preliminary Rounds

T&F: Women Punch Four More Tickets

5/29/2026 1:50:00 AM | Track & Field

Bears send seven individual entries to quarters at NCAA West

NCAA WEST RESULTS

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – Baylor's travel party to the NCAA Championship in Eugene, Ore., just got a little bigger, with the Bears punching four more tickets in Thursday's Day 2 action at the NCAA West Prelims.

The dynamic duo of Molly Haywood and Tenly Kuhn were two of the 10 pole vaulters that cleared 14-6 ½, with junior teammate Alencia Lentz losing a jump-off for the final two spots.

"Even though she didn't make it through, we're so proud of Alencia, especially after her struggles last year," said Baylor coach Michael Ford. "But Molly and Tenly, they've been doing it all year, and they did it again today, just being able to compete at a really high level at the right time."

Sophomore Janae De Gannes and junior Ruth Kimeli will also make return trips to Eugene, advancing in the long jump and 10,000 meters, respectively.

De Gannes, who had already advanced to the 100-meter quarterfinals with a time of 11.43 seconds, turned to her signature event and recorded the eighth-best mark in the long jump at 21-0 ½ on the second of three attempts.

"I just had to be patient," De Gannes said. "Once I jumped over 6.4 (meters) I knew I'd be good. It was a scary moment, but I still got through. Now, I just have to keep working for Eugene.

Kimeli, who was 18^th in the 10,000 meters at last year's NCAA Outdoor Championship, ran a smart race in getting through the NCAA West with a sixth-place finish in 32:29.24. Coming into the meet, 14 of the top 17 runners in the 10K were in the West region.

After fading late and finishing 10^th in the 5,000 meters at the Big 12 Championship, Kimeli got to the front of a second pack of runners behind BYU's Jane Hedengren, New Mexico's Pamela Kosgei and North Dakota's Jadyn Keeler and was able to create separation over the last four laps.

"With Ruth, there was really no doubt. She just kept on cranking," Ford said. "I was a little worried at the last. I think it was the second to last lap, she had a little grimace on her face. But she finished up. (Distance coach David Barnett) had her ready to go. We're just so proud of her."

While no other tickets were punched on Thursday, the Bears did advance three runners each in the 100 and 200 meters, and Serafima Lucero bounced back from a false start at conference to win her heat and post the fifth-fastest time overall in the 400-meter hurdles at 56.35.

Senior All-American Tiriah Kelley assured she would have a busy day in Saturday's quarterfinals, advancing in the 100 (11.36) and 200 (22.62), in addition to running legs on the Bears' 4x100 and 4x400 relays.

Royaltee Brown followed suit, taking one of the last spots in both the 100 (11.43) and 200 (23.31). Freshman Success Oyibu also advanced in the 200, running the sixth-best time (22.96), with De Gannes (11.43) joining Kelley and Brown in the 100-meter finals.

Lucero had one of the more impressive performances of the day, leading from start to finish in the first h
eat of the 400 hurdles and beating Kansas State's Vanessa Mercera by more than half of a second.

"Seema, having a disappointment at the conference meet and not even being able to have a chance to win Big 12, she ran a great race," Ford said. I think that might have been her sedon-best time. Now, we just have to get ready for tomorrow with the guys and then come back on Saturday with the ladies."

In the lone men's event of the day, postponed from Wednesday, Baylor junior Parker Brannon tied for 28^th with a mark of 16-7 ½, beating five of the seven vaulters he lost to at Big 12s.

Friday's schedule will shift back to the men, starting with the 4x100 relay at 5 p.m. Live results are available at NCAA West, with ESPN+ providing live streaming.

For the latest news on the Baylor track and field team all year long, follow its official Facebook, Twitter and Instagram accounts: @BaylorTrack.

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FRIDAY'S SCHEDULE OF EVENTS

4x100m relay, 5 p.m.
Heat 3, Lane 9

110m hurdles, 6:15 p.m.
Demario Prince, Heat 1, Lane 6

400 meters, 7:25 p.m.
Malik Franklin, Heat 1, Lane 3
Aren Spencer, Heat 3, Lane 2

4x400m relay, 8:45 p.m.
Heat 1, Lane 6