Bears Head To NCAA West Preliminary

Jai Williams (pictured above) will compete in the men’s high jump for a chance to move on to the NCAA Finals.

T&F5/22/2023 9:41 AM | By: Cal Athletics

Four-Day Competition Will Determine Finals Qualifiers

BERKELEY – Two weeks after claiming 12 podium spots (and two titles) at the Pac-12 Championships, California track & field is ready to take on an even bigger test as the Golden Bears head to nearby Sacramento for the NCAA West Preliminary. The Golden Bears will send a program-record 36 qualifiers to Hornet Stadium this week, with each athlete hoping to clinch a spot in the NCAA Outdoor Championships by finishing within the top-12 in his or her respective events.
 
Cal already has one guaranteed competitor moving on to the NCAA Finals in senior Hakim McMorris, who pre-qualified as one of the nation’s top 24 decathletes this season. He also made an appearance at last year’s championships, as did eight additional Bears on this year’s squad.
 
This is the first career regional meet for 11 of Cal’s competitors, four of whom (pole vaulter Skyler Magula, sprinter Mdakhaila Mills, javelin thrower Carolina Visca and hurdler Di’Niko Bates) finished on the podium at the Pac-12 Championships.
 
In this outdoor season alone, the Bears have accumulated 26 program top-10 marks, including four school records; one of those (Mykolas Alekna, discus) also stands as the current collegiate record and world lead.
 
Track events will be streamed each day on ESPN+. Tickets for the NCAA West Regional are available at HornetSports.com.
 
NCAA West Regional Schedule (All Times PT) (Seeds & Qualifying Marks notated)
Last Year’s Finals Qualifiers In Italics
 
Wednesday, May 24
Men’s Hammer (First Round) – 10 a.m.
                  -No. 6 Kegan Schroeter (70.21m/230-4)
                  -No. 9 Ivar Moisander (69.32m/227-5)
                  -No. 31 Michael Gupta (63.78m/209-3)
Men’s Shot Put (First Round) – 6 p.m.
                  -No. 20 Jeff Duensing (18.94m/62-1.75)
                  -No. 30 Jake Porter (18.27m/59-11.25)
Men’s 110m Hurdles (First Round) – 6 p.m.
                  -No. 38 Di’Niko Bates (13.88)
Men’s Pole Vault (First Round) – 6:30 p.m.
                  -No. 7 Skyler Magula…