Posted: May 19, 2016

Storm athletes make final push for nationals

Isaac Frazier and Dylan Kalinay punched their ticket to nationals while Emmitt Wheatley awaits official word as members of the Simpson track and field teams made their final bid for the 2016 NCAA Outdoor Track and Field Championships at two last chance meets Wednesday and Thursday.

Qualification to the championships is based on the descending-order list for the season. For each men's individual event contested, including the decathlon, the top 20 declared student-athletes will be accepted into the competition. For each woman's individual event contested, including the heptathlon, the top 22 declared student-athletes will be accepted into the competition. For each relay event contested, 14 the top 16 declared relay teams will be accepted into the competition.

The final list of meet participants will be made available via NCAA.com on Saturday, May 21 by 8 a.m. The 2016 NCAA Division III Outdoor Track & Field Championships will be contested May 26-28 at Wartburg College in Waverly, Iowa.

Frazier competed in the decathlon at North Central, scoring 6,504 points to move him up to eighth in Division III. Frazier topped his previous best by 361 points, setting personal-bests in the 100, 400, shot put, discus throw and pole vault along the way. He will be competing at nationals for the first time.
Kalinay improved his resume in the 110-meter hurdles, running 14.37 in the prelims. He held out of the finals, but is currently 10th in Division III. The sophomore will make his second trip to outdoor nationals.
Wheatley competed in the 100-meter dash, running 10.94 in the prelims and 11.03 in the finals. He couldn't improve upon his previous best, but still has an outside shot at qualifying for nationals. His 10.68 at the IIAC Championships is tied for 19th in the nation. Due to the tiebreaking criteria, he is currently outside of the nationals field. Coaches must declare their athletes by 5 p.m. today, so in the event one person doesn't declare, Wheatley would be in.
Sarah Galbraith competed in the heptathlon at North Central, setting a new personal-best with 4,368 points. Despite the career effort, Galbraith will by just 23 points shy of qualifying for nationals with the No. 25 performance in Division III.
Although they won't be running at nationals, the 4x100-meter relay team of Wheatley, Kalinay, Travis Tupper and Davey Jergens closed a memorable season by breaking the school record for the fourth time this season, running 41.73 at La Crosse.
The Iowa Conference champion in the 400-meter hurdles, Jordan Coughenour couldn't improve his mark at the UW-La Crosse NCAA Qualifier. He ran 54.80 to place third, just off his season best mark of 54.43. That time is currently No. 42 in Division III.
The 4x400-meter relay team of Coughenour, Chase Wetterling, Prince Krah and Kirk Wicks ran 3:19.37 to place ninth.
Annie Gullickson threw the discus at North Central, hitting 128-feet, 2-inches to place third overall.