SACRAMENTO, Calif. (May 23, 2019) – Jerayah Davis' dream senior season will continue in two weeks at the NCAA National Championships in Austin, Texas. The Casper native had a long jump mark in the top-12 at the NCAA West Preliminary, and she earned her first career appearance at the national championships.
 
"Jerayah has always had the physical ability to be an elite collegiate long jumper," said UW jumps coach Quincy Howe. "The things she has accomplished this year have always been in her. Being able to have steady, consistent work in the long jump has allowed her the ability to relax and allow top performances to come, as opposed to always chasing them. Today has been the fruit of that consistent work."
 
Davis was never outside the top-12 in the long jump, as her first jump had her in a spot to qualify. However, her second jump solidified her spot, and it was her best jump of the day at 20 feet, 5.75 inches. She finished in sixth, and will compete for a national title in two weeks.
 
Fellow senior Ja'la Henderson placed 22^nd in the long jump with a leap of 19-6.75. She narrowly missed qualifying for her second-consecutive long jump national championship appearance.
 
Davis also advanced to tomorrow's national quarterfinals in the 100m dash, as she finished second in her heat and fourth overall with a time of 11.26. The field of 48 has been narrowed to 24, and tomorrow's race will determine which 12 advance to Austin.
 
The Cowboys had two athletes in the hammer throw, and they both finished higher than they were seeded entering the meet. Kirk Unland was seeded 29^th and finished in 28^th with a throw of 199-7. Eric McArthur was seeded 39^th, but he moved up to 32^nd with a toss of 194-5. This is the first preliminary appearance for both throwers.
 
Emelda Malm-Annan represented the Cowgirl hammer throwers, and she finished 22^nd with a best throw of 194-1.
 
William Nolan opened up his preliminary by moving up three spots from his seed and finishing 42^nd in the long jump with a mark of 22-4.5. He will continue his meet on Saturday with the triple jump.
 
In the final event of the night, Christopher Henry moved up six spots from where he was seeded in the 10,000m and finished 39^th in 30:08.59.
 
The NCAA West Preliminary continues tomorrow, with Davis' national quarterfinal 100m dash race at 7 p.m. Kacey Doner and Harry Ewing will run the steeplechase at 9:20 p.m. and 10 p.m., respectively.
 
Fans can follow links on GoWyo.com for live stats and a live stream. Additionally, updates will be posted on Twitter @wyo_track.
 
NCAA West Preliminary
Sacramento, Calif. | Hornet Stadium
May 23, 2019
 
Cowboy Results
10,000m: 39. Christopher Henry, 30:08.59
Long Jump: 42. William Nolan, 22-4.5
Hammer Throw: 28. Kirk Unland, 199-7; 32. Eric McArthur, 194-5
 
Cowgirl Results
100m Dash: 4. Jerayah Davis, 11.26Q
Long Jump: 6. Jerayah Davis, 20-5.75*; 22. Ja'la Henderson, 19-6.75
Hammer Throw: 22. Emelda Malm-Annan, 194-1
 
* - indicates advances to NCAA National Championships
Q – indicates automatic qualifier for Saturday's national quarterfinal
 
SCHEDULE OF EVENTS
 
FRIDAY
7 p.m. – Women's 100m Quarterfinal (Jerayah Davis)
9:20 p.m. – Women's Steeplechase Semifinal (Kacey Doner)
10:00 p.m. – Men's Steeplechase Semifinal (Harry Ewing)
 
SATURDAY
4 p.m. – Women's Triple Jump (Ja'la Henderson)
7 p.m. – Women's 4x100m Relay (Jerayah Davis, Ja'la Henderson, Shayla Howell, Jordan Edmonds)
7:30 p.m. – Men's Triple Jump (William Nolan)