Friday, May 26
Sacramento, CA / Hornet Stadium
All Day
at
NCAA West Preliminaries
Aidan McCarthy Books Ticket to NCAA Championships
5/26/2023 9:09:00 PM | Track and Field
SACRAMENTO, Calif. — Friday was a banner day for the Cal Poly track and field program as redshirt sophomore Aidan McCarthy made history en route to securing a spot at the NCAA Championships.
In the quarterfinals of the men's 800-meter at the NCAA West Preliminaries, McCarthy placed first to punch his ticket to the NCAA Championships in Austin, Texas, on June 7-10.
McCarthy is the first Mustang since Peyton Bilo in 2017 to qualify for the national meet. He is also the first athlete on the men's side to earn a berth to nationals in 11 years.
Under the current format, McCarthy is the first Mustang in program history to capture a title in an event at West Prelims. His time of 1:46.26 in the 800 Friday night at Sacramento State's Hornet Stadium broke his own school record by nearly a full second and was the fastest time recorded across the East and West Prelims. The time is the fifth fastest ran in Division I this season and currently No. 33 in the world during this outdoor season.
After missing out on an automatic qualifier berth to nationals by .08 seconds last season in his first appearance at West Prelims, the two-time Big West champion decided to leave no doubt Friday. Oohs and aahs rained down from the crowd as McCarthy crossed the finish line.
McCarthy will look to make even more history when he steps on the track at Mike A. Myers Stadium in Austin in less than two weeks.
In his first appearance at the West Prelims, junior Anthony Guerra placed 45th overall (9:15.27) in the men's 3,000 steeplechase. Two weeks ago, Guerra became Cal Poly's fifth Big West champion in the 3,000 steeplechase and first since 2018.
Graduate student Rachel Victor will compete in the women's 3,000 steeplechase during the final day of the West Prelims on Saturday.
In the quarterfinals of the men's 800-meter at the NCAA West Preliminaries, McCarthy placed first to punch his ticket to the NCAA Championships in Austin, Texas, on June 7-10.
McCarthy is the first Mustang since Peyton Bilo in 2017 to qualify for the national meet. He is also the first athlete on the men's side to earn a berth to nationals in 11 years.
Under the current format, McCarthy is the first Mustang in program history to capture a title in an event at West Prelims. His time of 1:46.26 in the 800 Friday night at Sacramento State's Hornet Stadium broke his own school record by nearly a full second and was the fastest time recorded across the East and West Prelims. The time is the fifth fastest ran in Division I this season and currently No. 33 in the world during this outdoor season.
After missing out on an automatic qualifier berth to nationals by .08 seconds last season in his first appearance at West Prelims, the two-time Big West champion decided to leave no doubt Friday. Oohs and aahs rained down from the crowd as McCarthy crossed the finish line.
McCarthy will look to make even more history when he steps on the track at Mike A. Myers Stadium in Austin in less than two weeks.
In his first appearance at the West Prelims, junior Anthony Guerra placed 45th overall (9:15.27) in the men's 3,000 steeplechase. Two weeks ago, Guerra became Cal Poly's fifth Big West champion in the 3,000 steeplechase and first since 2018.
Graduate student Rachel Victor will compete in the women's 3,000 steeplechase during the final day of the West Prelims on Saturday.
Players Mentioned
Distance
/ Track and Field
Distance
/ Track and Field
Distance
/ Track and Field
Distance
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