Track and Field 5/24/2017 3:00:00 PM

Dons' Dozen Head to NCAA West Regionals

AUSTIN, Texas – The San Francisco track and field team sends its largest group of Dons ever to compete at the NCAA West Region Preliminary Championships, as 12 Dons will toe the line on the track. Before heading out to the capital of Texas, USF's head coach Helen Lehman-Winters and four of the traveling party looked ahead to the competition.

"We are really excited about what we have going into the postseason. This is our largest group ever – a dozen athletes," noted Lehman-Winters. "To be in the position that we are, we feel like we've got a lot of kids that can really be in the mix, and I think they believe that they have more and they're highly motivated to advance.

"We have a number of athletes that are ranked in the top 20 in their marks in the west region, and we have some that aren't in the top 20 but are better than their marks. They're coming along strong and if everything goes well and we perform to our capabilities, we feel like we'll have our largest group going to Eugene in another two weeks."

Fans can follow the action from Austin with online streaming and live results. Heat sheets, results, notes and more can be found on the online meet headquarters. Follow #ncaaTF on social media and daily recaps of the competition will be posted on usfdons.com.

What 2 Watch 4

Ben Alcock • 5,000 meters
Junior • Bedford, England
Road to regionals: Alcock enters the prelims with the unique distinction of being the 48th and final qualifier in his event. Slipping into the field in the 5,000 meters, he will toe the line in the second heat of the semifinals competition. Alcock earned his qualifying time of 14:05.06 at the Oxy Invitational on May 6, where he was the 11th man to cross the line.
Texas timeline: Saturday, May 27 at 6:45 p.m. – Semifinals
To get to Tracktown, USA: Two heats of the 5K will be contested in the West Regional, and the top five from each heat plus the next best two times will advance to the finals. The race will have a double waterfall start with two-thirds of the 24-man field beginning on the main start line.

Mohamed Aziz • 3,000 meter steeplechase
Junior • Staten Island, NY
Road to regionals: Making his first appearance on the national stage, Aziz will compete in the first heat of the quarterfinals. Aziz ran his NCAA qualifying time in his first steeplechase outing of the season, crossing the line in sixth place at the San Francisco State Distance Carnival in 8:57.77 on March 31.
Texas timeline: Friday, May 26 at 7 p.m. – Quarterfinals
To get to Tracktown, USA: One round will be contested in Austin with the top three from each of three heats plus the athletes with the next best three times earning a spot in the semifinals in Eugene, Ore.

Marie Bouchard • 1,500 meters
Senior • Paimpol, France
Road to regionals: Bouchard has run but once in the spring, where she notched a time of 4:24.50 to qualify for the regional field. Her mark at the Stanford Invitational on March 31 was good for 11th in her heat. Bouchard and teammate Burkard will both compete in Heat 4 of the first round in the 1,500, looking to advance to Saturday's quarterfinals.
Texas timeline: Thursday, May 25 at 3:30 p.m. – First Round; Saturday, May 27 at 4:30 p.m. – Quarterfinals
To get to Tracktown, USA: The top five runners from each of the four first round heats plus the next four times advance to the quarters. The top five in each quarterfinal heat plus the next best two times earn a spot in the semifinals in Eugene, Ore.

Isabelle Brauer • 10,000 meters
Sophomore • Stockholm, Sweden
Road to regionals: Brauer advanced to the fields of the NCAA West Preliminary Championships with a 33:44.11 mark to take second in her heat at the Stanford Invitational on March 31, her lone 10K on the year. Her qualifying time stands as the ninth-fastest time of the entrants in the event. The sophomore has run four college best marks in four separate events this season (1,500, 3,000, 5,000 and 10,000 m).
Texas timeline: Thursday, May 25 at 7 p.m. – Semifinals
To get to Tracktown, USA: The top 12 finishers in the semifinal round of the 10,000 meters will advance to Eugene with the opportunity to run for the NCAA title.

Elena Burkard • 1,500 meters
Senior • Baiersbronn, Germany
Road to regionals: Burkard and teammate Bouchard will both compete in Heat 4 of the first round in the 1,500, looking to advance to Saturday's quarterfinals. For Burkard, the trip to the West Regional is her third, but it marks her fourth occasion to earn a qualifying spot. Last year, Burkard was in the top 48 in the region in both the 1,500 and 5,000, but she had to withdraw due to injury. In 2014, she competed in the 5K, taking ninth in her semifinal, and in 2015 she raced in the 1,500 where she finished 11th in her heat but also faced the tough decision to withdraw from the 5,000 for which she also qualified. This season, Burkard focused solely on the shorter distance and raced herself into the USF record books on April 22. Her qualifying time of 4:15.63 was set at the Cardinal Classic where she posted a third place finish en route to the school best. Burkard's time stands as the third-fastest of the 12 competitors in her preliminary heat in Austin.
Texas timeline: Thursday, May 25 at 3:30 p.m. – First Round; Saturday, May 27 at 4:30 p.m. – Quarterfinals
To get to Tracktown, USA: The top five runners from each of the four first round heats plus the next four times advance to the quarters. The top five in each quarterfinal heat plus the next best two times earn a spot in the semifinals in Eugene, Ore.

Ryan Driscoll • 3,000 meter steeplechase
Senior • London, England
Road to regionals: The USF record holder in both the 3,000 meters and 3,000 meter steeplechase, Driscoll makes a repeat regionals appearance. Driscoll ran what would have been a qualifying time of 8:56.99 at the Stanford Invitational on March 31, and then bettered his standing after shaving more than six seconds off his school best. On May 5 at the Oxy Invitational, he rounded the track in 8:50.87 to earn fourth place in the field and set a new Dons' record. Last season, Driscoll finished 16th in his quarterfinals heat after a four hour weather delay in Kansas. This year, Driscoll will toe the line in Heat 2 of the quarterfinals, seeded as the fifth-fastest in the group of 16.
Texas timeline: Friday, May 26 at 7 p.m. – Quarterfinals
To get to Tracktown, USA: One round will be contested in Austin with the top three from each of three heats plus the athletes with the next best three times earning a spot in the semifinals in Eugene, Ore.

Hugh Nicklason • 1,500 meters
Sophomore • Hobart, Australia
Road to regionals: Nicklason, the USF record holder in both the 800 and 1,500 meters, will make his second appearance in the 1,500 meters at the NCAA West Region Preliminary Championships. In 2017, Nicklason earned his qualifying mark of 3:43.01 at the Bryan Clay Invitational on April 14, where he bettered his own school record on the track at Azusa Pacific. Running in Heat 3 in the first round, Nicklason's qualifying time rates fifth out of the 12 competitors. Last year, Nicklason finished 11th in his heat at regionals after leading the race for the first three laps of the race.
Texas timeline: Thursday, May 25 at 4 p.m. PT – First Round; Saturday, May 27 at 4:45 p.m. – Quarterfinals
To get to Tracktown, USA: The top five runners from each of the four first round heats plus the next four times advance to the quarters. The top five in each quarterfinal heat plus the next best two times earn a spot in the semifinals in Eugene, Ore.

Weronika Pyzik • 5,000 meters
Sophomore • Bilgoraj, Poland
Road to regionals: Making her second appearance in the 5,000 meters on the national stage, Pyzik earned her qualifying mark of 15:59.00 at the Stanford Invitational on March 31. She was the first Don to break the 16 minute barrier at the 5K distance to earn the record, before being overtaken by Taylor in the books five weeks later. Last season, Pyzik took 11th in her semifinals heat of the 5K. A trio of Dons will toe the line in Heat 1 of the semifinals, as Pyzik, Schulte and Taylor will take off together in Austin.
Texas timeline: Saturday, May 27 at 6:05 p.m. – Semifinals
To get to Tracktown, USA: Two heats of the 5K will be contested in the West Regional, and the top five from each heat plus the next best two times will advance to the finals. The start will be in double waterfall fashion as two-thirds of the 24-woman field will begin on the main start line.

Tatjana Schulte • 5,000 meters
Redshirt Freshman • Buren, Germany
Road to regionals: Schulte heads to Texas for her first regional championships appearance as one of three Dons slated to compete in the 5,000 meters. The trio will toe the line in Heat 1 of the semifinals, as Pyzik, Schulte and Taylor will take off together in Austin. Schulte's ticket to prelims was punched on April 21, when she posted a mark of 16:13.86 to take 10th in her heat at the Cardinal Classic.
Texas timeline: Saturday, May 27 at 6:05 p.m. – Semifinals
To get to Tracktown, USA: Two heats of the 5K will be contested in the West Regional, and the top five from each heat plus the next best two times will advance to the finals. Those 12 advancing athletes will then toe the line alongside the East's 12 competitors in the finals from Eugene, Ore.

Alex Short • 10,000 meters
Senior • Bicknacre, England
Road to regionals: Short, a second team All-American in the indoor 5,000 meters and first team cross country honoree, will toe the line in the 10,000 meters for the second straight season. Last year, he crossed the line in the regional field in 29th. This season, Short enters the prelims sporting the USF 10K record time of 28:46.83, set on March 31 at the Stanford Invitational. His qualifying mark is the 11th fastest in the field of 48 racers That race stands as his lone outing of the season in the 10,000 meters thus far.
Texas timeline: Thursday, May 25 at 7:30 p.m. – Semifinals
To get to Tracktown, USA: The top 12 finishers in the semifinal round of the 10,000 meters will advance to Eugene with the opportunity to run for the NCAA title.

Emma Stahr • 800 meters
Sophomore • Leipzig, Germany
Road to regionals: Stahr will take off in Heat 6 in the first round of completion on Thursday evening. Her qualifying time is sixth out of the nine-woman heat. She made it into the regionals field after posting a season-best and USF record on the final day of competition. Stahr covered the 800 meter distance in 2:08.20 to win the event at the West Coast Last Chance on May 13, and break Hillary Harris' three year old record.
Texas timeline: Thursday, May 25 at 6:10 p.m. – First Round; Friday, May 26 at 4:30 p.m. - Quarterfinals
To get to Tracktown, USA: Stahr must get through two heats of competition in Austin in order to advance to the final two rounds of action. The top three from each of six first round heats plus the next six fastest times will advance to the quarterfinal round. The top three in each of Friday's quarterfinals plus the next best three times will go to Eugene.

Charlotte Taylor • 5,000 and 10,000 meters
Senior • Spalding, England
Road to regionals: Taylor enters the preliminary championships after running one of the most prolific regular seasons for a Don, ever. Qualifying with the fastest times in the West in both the 5,000 and 10,000 meters, Taylor will enter the field as one to watch. She first qualified for regionals in her specialty, the 10K. Taylor raced to a USF record time of 32:11.80 to earn fourth place in the speedy heat at the Stanford Invitational on March 31. Then on May 5 on the same Stanford track, she claimed the fastest time in the NCAA in the 5K, finishing in 15:29.07 at the Payton Jordan Invitational, picking up her second school record. Last year, Taylor took 12th in the semifinal round of the 10,000 meters in Lawrence, Kansas, and then raced to 17th in the finals to earn All-American honorable mention status. In 2017, Taylor will double up and enjoy the opportunity to run with fellow Dons in each event. She will be joined on the track by Brauer in the 10K on Thursday, and then she will toe the line alongside Pyzik and Schulte in Heat 1 of the 5K semifinals on Saturday.
Texas timeline: Thursday, May 25 at 7 p.m. – 10,000 m Semifinals; Saturday, May 25 at 6:05 p.m. – 5,000 m Semifinals
To get to Tracktown, USA: Two heats of the 5K will be contested in the West Regional, and the top five from each heat plus the next best two times will advance to the finals. In the 10,000 meters, the top 12 finishers in the one heat of the semifinals will advance to the NCAA Finals in Eugene, Ore. Taylor is looking for a repeat trip to the Finals after competing in the 10K one year ago.

Dons in the Regional – Composite Schedule

Thursday, May 25
3:30 p.m. – 1,500 m (W) – First Round (Burkard – Heat 4, Bouchard – Heat 4)
4 p.m. – 1,500 m (M) – First Round (Nicklason – Heat 3)
6:10 p.m. – 800 m (W) – First Round (Stahr – Heat 6)
7 p.m. – 10,000 m (W) – Semifinals (Brauer, Taylor)
7:40 p.m. – 10,000 m (M) – Semifinals (Short)

Friday, May 26
4:30 p.m. – 800 m (W) – Quarterfinals (Stahr)
7 p.m. – 3,000 m SC (M) – Quarterfinals (Aziz – Heat 1, Driscoll – Heat 2)

Saturday, May 27
4:30 p.m. – 1,500 m (W) – Quarterfinals (Burkard, Bouchard)
4:45 p.m. – 1,500 m (M) – Quarterfinals (Nicklason)
6:05 p.m. – 5,000 m (W) – Semifinals (Pyzik – Heat 1, Schulte – Heat 1, Taylor – Heat 1)
6:45 p.m. – 5,000 m (M) – Semifinals (Alcock – Heat 2)

Spanning the Globe

62 miles – Distance from the Earth's surface to outer space
248 mi. – Distance from Earth to average orbit of the international space station
24,901 mi. – Circumference of the Earth
65,589 mi. – Combined distance between USF's 12 athletes' hometowns and San Francisco [Min: 2,560 mi. – Aziz (Staten Island, NY); Mean: 5,465 mi.; Max: 7,931 mi. – Nicklason (Hobart, Tasmania, Australia)]

By the Numbers

12 – Largest contingent of NCAA Preliminary Round qualifiers for the Dons (2017)
10 – Total number of USF records held by 2017 prelims competitors (Burkard – 1,500 m; Driscoll – 3,000 m & 3,000 m SC; Nicklason – 800 m & 1,500 m; Short – 5,000 m & 10,000 m; Stahr – 800 m; Taylor – 5,000 m & 10,000 m)
6 – USF Track & Field All-Americans [Eva Krchova: 2011 – 3,000 m SC (2nd team), 2012 – 3,000 m SC (HM); Sophie Curl: 2012 – 1,500 m (HM); Nicole Bowler: 2012: 1,500 m (HM); Jana Soethout: 2013 – 10,000 m (HM), 2014 – 10,000 m (1st team); Charlotte Taylor: 2016 – 10,000 m (HM); Alex Short: 2017 – 5,000 m (2nd team – indoor)]
3 – Largest number of participants to advance to the NCAA Finals (2012)
1 – First Team All-American (Soethout)

Did You Know?

The USF women enter as the 29th team in the nation in the latest USTFCCCA rankings, up four spots from its previous place. Five women have earned a scored mark on the season, led by Charlotte Taylor's fastest 5,000 meter time in the NCAA, good for 35.78 of USF's 77.19 points. The ranking is one below its highest all-time, as USF's landed in 28th in the Week 6 poll, released May 6. One week later, the Dons dropped to 33rd before climbing back to 29th heading into prelims.

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