NCAA West Preliminaries
Bresko Nearly Makes it to NCAA Finals, McCarthy Advances to Quarterfinals in 800
5/25/2022 8:35:00 PM | Track and Field
FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – Cal Poly's Aidan McCarthy advanced to the quarterfinals in the men's 800-meter and Mathis Bresko nearly earned a spot in the NCAA Finals during the opening day of the NCAA Track and Field West Preliminaries on Wednesday at the University of Arkansas.
McCarthy continued his impressive season on the track. The redshirt freshman captured fourth in his heat in the 800, one place short of automatically qualifying for the quarterfinals in the event. However, McCarthy ran the 23rd fastest time across the six heats to earn a spot in the quarterfinals.
McCarthy's time of 1 minute, 49.22 seconds was a new personal best and the fourth fastest in Cal Poly history, moving him ahead of Dan Aldridge (1979). McCarthy, the Big West champion, and the other 23 runners that made it to the quarterfinals will take the track again at 5:05 p.m. PST Friday with the top 12 times advancing to the NCAA Division I National Championships in Eugene, Oregon on June 8-11.
Bresko established a new personal best of 17 feet, 4.25 inches in the men's pole vault to finish 13th, just one spot short of advancing to the NCAA Finals in Eugene. Bresko cleared the same height as Montana State's Colby Wilson in 12th, but Bresko committed six fouls compared to Wilson's five.
Bresko, the conference champion, had a stellar sophomore campaign, placing first in five of the eight events he participated in this spring.
Three other Mustangs competed Wednesday. Senior Jake Ritter captured 22nd in the men's 10,000 with a 29:18.72, improving upon his 38th-place finish at last year's West Regional. Ritter sits in fourth on Cal Poly's all-time list with a 28:55.83 and earned All-Conference honors this season.
Christian Valles tied for 35th in the men's pole vault (16-0.5). Valles posted a career best 16-10.75 this season and finished fourth at the Big West Championships.
Elliott Payne got things started for the Mustangs on Wednesday in the men's javelin, but unfortunately was unable to record a mark. Payne committed foot fouls on all three of his attempts.
Payne, a freshman, is already No. 10 on Cal Poly's all-time list with a mark of 206-1 and he will look to continue to climb up the history books next spring.
Two more Mustangs will compete in the West Preliminaries on Thursday. Emily Hallett, the school-record holder, takes the stage in the women's hammer throw at 8 a.m. PST, while Big West champion Melissa Navarro will hope to shine in the women's javelin at noon PST. You can follow the live results here.
Players Mentioned
