University of Illinois
NCAA Regional Championships
Masheto Qualifies For 400m Final At NCAA Mideast Regional
May 30, 2008 | Men's Track & Field
May 30, 2008
NCAA Mideast Regional Championships Saturday Field Flights (PDF)
NCAA Mideast Regional Championships Saturday Heat Sheets (PDF)
FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. - Junior Gakologelwang Masheto won his heat and advanced to the 400m final, as the highlighting performance for the Illini men's track and field team on Friday at the NCAA Mideast Regional Championships at John McDonnell Field.
Masheto timed 46.67 seconds to place first in his heat and automatically qualify for Saturday's event final, where he is seeded fourth. The junior is aiming for his second consecutive trip to the NCAA Championships in the 400m, which he placed fourth in last season and was an All-American.
The top five individuals and top three relays in every event at the regional championships receive automatic bids to the NCAA Championships, which will be held from June 11-14 in Des Moines, Iowa.
Sophomore Greg Shroka tied for fifth in the high jump with a height of 6 feet, 9 inches to narrowly miss a trip to nationals. With four athletes clearing the 6'9" height and receiving automatic NCAA berths, Shroka and four others were tied for fifth and had a jump-off to determine who received the last slot. Jason House of Southern was the only athlete to clear 6'9" on the first attempt of the jump-off, however, earning the final automatic NCAA Championships berth. Shroka still has an outside chance to receive a bid to NCAA's when at-large selections are announced next week.
In other Illini action on Friday, senior Nick Brown placed 19th in the long jump with a distance of 24 feet, 1 1/2 inches while sophomore Jacob Nachel was 18th in the 5,000m (14:51.70). Junior Yawusa Kinda was 17th in the 400m prelims with a time of 48.17.
Illinois will resume competition at the NCAA Mideast Regional Championships on Saturday at 2:45 p.m. with junior Andrew Zollner competing in the pole vault. Brown will compete in the triple jump, while Masheto will run the 400m final and Rob Pykosz the 3,000m steeplechase. The Illini are scheduled to compete in the final event of the day, the 4x400m relay, at 8:20 p.m.
Illinois NCAA Mideast Regional Championships Friday Results
5,000m (FINAL)
18. Jacob Nachel 14:51.70
High Jump (FINAL)
T5. Greg Shroka 6'9" (2.06m)
Shot Put (FINAL)
-- Casey Fonnesbeck FOUL
Long Jump (FINAL)
19. Nick Brown 24'1.5" (7.35m)
400m (Prelims)
4. Gakologelwang Masheto 46.67 Q
17. Yawusa Kinda 48.17
400m Hurdles (Prelims)
-- Cody Wisslead DQ
