Results
LEXINGTON, Ky. – George Mason University women's track & field senior
Michelle Wallerstedt is truly saving her best for last in a Patriot uniform while proving the third time's the charm.
Competing in the third NCAA Preliminary of her George Mason career, Wallerstedt put forth a career performance in the discus Friday, shattering the school record in the event with an impressive mark of 55.16 meters (181-0).
The throw secured her a fourth place finish out of 48 NCAA Preliminary competitors and clinched her a berth in the upcoming NCAA Championships June 7-10 in Eugene, Oregon, where she will compete for the national title. Wallerstedt is the first Mason discus thrower in more than 20 years to advance to Eugene.
"I've been training for this type of performance for so long," Wallerstedt said. "I knew I had the capability to qualify for the NCAA Championship, but to showcase the ability to execute when necessary was a relief and it felt great. I've worked with my coaches on becoming more mentally tough since my trip here in 2015 and I knew what was necessary to compete at this level. I came in confident, but not overconfident, and got it done."
In the preliminary discus round, each competitor receives three throws, with the top mark counting for the final standings. Unlike many competitors who pepper in good throws with fouls and lesser attempts, Wallerstedt was on her game from the start.
Competing in the third and final flight, the Omaha, Neb., product opened with a solid throw of 51.97m (170-6), vaulting her into ninth place in the field of 48. She then reared back and executed the superior mark of 55.16 meters (181-0), surpassing her previous school record throw of 53.84m (176-8) set at the 2017 Atlantic 10 Championship. The second throw moved Wallerstedt up to third with one throw remaining.
She closed with another good mark of 52.94m (173-8) to wrap up her day. With the top-12 competitors advancing to Eugene, Wallerstedt comfortably clinched her spot with the fourth place showing.
"I have a goal to be an All-American," Wallerstedt said. "As a track & field athlete, you can be happy with performance but never satisfied. Myechnique wasn't 100 percent and I know I can improve upon this performance in Eugene. But overall, I'm happy I performed well. I know that making it to NCAAs itself is a major accomplishment."
Following Wallerstedt's performance in Lexington, A-10 200m champion Bernard Freeman just missed his PR in the event while finishing 32nd in the opening round (21.08 seconds). Freeman won both the indoor and outdoor A-10 200-meter titles this season in a strong senior campaign for the Raleigh product.
Meanwhile, junior Paul Adam made his NCAA East Preliminary debut in the 3000m steeplechase and placed 46th in a time of 9:33.97. The 2017 A-10 champion in the event will now return to Mason for his senior season with hopes of building on his breakout junior campaign in 2016-17.
The Patriots wrap up competition at the NCAA East Preliminary Saturday in Kentucky.
