Scott, Robison Cap Day One With NCAA Qualifiers

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AUSTIN, Texas – The No. 2 University of Arkansas women’s track and field team collected two national qualifiers with the efforts of Dominique Scott and Diane Robison at 10,000 meters at the 2015 NCAA West Preliminary. Scott was third while Robison hung on for one of the final spots in 11th place. The Razorbacks also had four runners advance to the quarterfinal rounds of their respective events.

With their efforts in the final event of the night, both Scott and Robison are making their second-career appearances at the NCAA Championships; both qualified at 5,000 meters in 2014. The long-distance duo will be joined by teammate Valerie Reina in Saturday’s qualifying run at 5,000 meters. That race is slated for an 8:05 p.m. (CT) start at Myers Stadium with the field of 48 running for 12 spots.

Arkansas’ first quarterfinalist of the day was Therese Haiss who secured automatic advancement with a third-place finish in the fourth heat of the 1,500 meters. She crossed the finish line in 4:23.64, good for ninth overall during Thursday’s first round. The quarterfinal heats will be run Saturday at 6:30 p.m. with the top 12 advancing to the national meet.

Taylor Ellis-Watson was the next Razorback to advance to the quarterfinals, finishing fourth overall in the opening round of the 400 meters. She won her heat in a time of 52.54 to advance to the next round. The SEC champion in the event will run for a spot at the national meet Friday at 6 p.m. Ellis-Watson is also scheduled to run with Arkansas’ 4×400-meter relay in Saturday’s event finale.

Chrishuna Williams and Rebekka Simko both won their respective heats during the opening round of the 800 meters to move on to Friday’s quarterfinal round. Williams pulled just ahead of the pack at the tape for the win in 2:09.42 and Simko charged down the final 100 meters to cross in a winning time of 2:09.97. The Razorback duo will look to clinch berths into the NCAA Championships in Friday’s quarterfinal heats at 7 p.m.

Day two of the NCAA West Preliminary features 12 qualifying opportunities for the Razorback women, starting at 1 p.m. with four entries in the pole vault with Sandi Morris, Desiree Freier, Ariel Voskamp and Megan Zimlich. Another group of chances will come in the 3,000-meter steeplechase with Jessica Kamilos, Shannon Klenke and Regan Ward. Multi-event standouts Alex Gochenour and Taliyah Brooks will be also competing in the 100-meter hurdles and high jump.

2015 NCAA West Preliminary | Day 1
Mike A. Myers Stadium
Austin, Texas

400 Meters (first round)
4. Taylor Ellis-Watson – 52.54q

800 Meters (first round)
17. Chrishuna Williams – 2:09.42q
23. Rebekka Simko – 2:09.97q

1,500 Meters (first round)
9. Therese Haiss – 4:23.64q

10,000 Meters (semifinal)
3. Dominique Scott – 34:25.46
11. Diane Robison – 34:46.55

Long Jump (first round)
20. Taliyah Brooks – 6.05m/19-10.25
40. Alex Gochenour – 5.79m/19-0

Q – advancing to NCAA Championships; q – advancing to quarterfinal

#NCAAD1W Day 2 Schedule
1 p.m. | Pole Vault (first round) – Sandi Morris, Desiree Freier, Ariel Voskamp, Megan Zimlich
5 p.m. | 100m Hurdles (first round) – Alex Gochenour, Taliyah Brooks
6 p.m. | 400 Meters (quarterfinal) – Taylor Ellis-Watson
6 p.m. | High Jump (first round) – Alex Gochenour, Taliyah Brooks
7 p.m. | 800 Meters (quarterfinal) – Chrishuna Williams, Rebekka Simko
8:50 p.m. | 3,000m Steeplechase (quarterfinal) – Jessica Kamilos, Shannon Klenke, Regan Ward

For more information on Arkansas track and field including in-meet updates, follow @RazorbackTF on Twitter.