The ASU indoor track and field team sent athletes to the Last Chance Meets this weekend to qualify for the NCAA Indoor Championships.
Although the Sun Devils failed to gain automatic qualifiers to the national championships, redshirt sophomore Nick Happe looks to have cemented his position in the mile and gained a berth in next weekend's indoor championships.
Happe ran his second sub-four minute mile of the season Saturday in Seattle, finishing in a time of 3:58.73. The mark was good enough to be No. 14 in the nation, and Happe will wait until Monday to officially find out his fate.
ASU coach Greg Kraft is confident the redshirt sophomore will qualify and is content with his performance.
“Nick has made some tremendous progress this indoor season,” Kraft said. “It was an exciting weekend for him.”
Freshman Shelby Houlihan broke the school record she set earlier this season in the mile with a time of 4:39.36. The time only put her in 25th place nationally, so her indoor season looks to be finished.
Kraft was still impressed with Houlihan's performance Saturday.
“I'm definitely proud of her,” Kraft said. “I'm excited for her career at ASU.”
At Iowa State, the men's 4x400-meter relay team earned the 9th fastest time in school history at 3:08.07 and placed No. 13 nationally.
The group doesn't seem likely to qualify, something Kraft would have liked to see.
“It's one of those traditions at ASU where our relay is at the national championships, so the fact that we aren't going to be there is disappointing,” he said.
The women's 4x400-meter team dropped a handoff and was unable to finish the race.
“At the end of the day, they just didn't get it done,” Kraft said. “It was a disappointing performance. We are just going to have to get better.”
All-America athlete junior Christabel Nettey won the long jump competition, but didn't earn a better mark in the event. Nettey still sits in 14th place nationally and will likely qualify for the NCAA Indoor Championships.
Kraft understands the pain Nettey has faced this season, but has faith the junior will compete well next weekend.
“She has had issues with her back,” Kraft said. “Her last three jumps have been consistent, though.”
The Sun Devils will wait until Monday to officially get the qualifying list, after which they will start preparing for the NCAA Indoor Championships. The national championships are set to take place March 9-10.
Reach the reporter at dsshapi1@asu.edu
