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UW Track and Field Program Qualifies Four Athletes for 2001 NCAA Outdoor Championship
Wyoming's qualifiers included one woman and three men.
May 25, 2001 LARAMIE, Wyo. -
The NCAA announced qualifiers for the 2001 NCAA Outdoor Track and Field Championship on Friday, and four University of Wyoming student-athletes are among the field for the championship. The championship will take place in Eugene, Ore., on May 30-June 2. Wyoming's qualifiers included one woman and three men. Andrea Batt, a freshman from Huson, Mont., is ranked No. 6 in the NCAA in the women's javelin (168' 8"). UW senior Joe Hall, from Buffalo, Wyo., qualified 18th in the men's 10,000 meters (29:10.77). He is joined by senior Jason Hammond of Fresno, Calif., who qualified 10th in the men's hammer throw (221' 1"), and senior Jason Gervais of Timmins, Ontario, who qualified No. 4 in the men's discus (201' 9"). Gervais and Hammond have both participated in the NCAA Outdoor Championship before. Both earned All-America honors a year ago in the 2000 NCAA Outdoor Championship. Gervais placed second a year ago at the NCAAs in the discus, and Hammond placed ninth in the shot put. Batt, Hammond and Gervais all won their respective events at the 2001 Mountain West Conference Outdoor Track and Field Championship held in San Diego on May 16-19. Hall didn't run in the 10,000 meters at the MWC Championship, but did place second in the 5,000 meters in the conference championship. "It's great to have four individuals representing Wyoming at the national championship" said UW head track and field coach Don Yentes. "All four of these student-athletes have worked extremely hard to achieve this level of performance, and I can't say enough for the efforts they've put in, as well as the efforts of my assistant coaches in helping them attain their goals. "If Jason (Gervais) performs like he has throughout this season, he can be right in the running for a national championship in the discus. Jason has a lot of experience competing in NCAA championships, but a number of other individuals competing in the discus event are also veterans, so this should be an extremely exciting event. Jason has had an outstanding year and an outstanding career at Wyoming. "Jason Hammond has been our most valuable field-event performer this year. It's hard to pick one individual for that honor, with four All-Americans on our team in the field events, but we picked him for his versatility this season in three different throwing events. The hammer throw is Jason's best event. He is relatively new to the hammer throw, having only picked it up about three years ago. He is really starting to come into his own. Jason has competed at both the NCAA Indoor and Outdoor Championships before, and has earned All-America honors before, so he will enter the competition knowing what it takes to have a successful meet. "Joe Hall is one of the greatest stories on our team. He came to the University from Buffalo, Wyo., as a walk-on. He earned a scholarship, and now he has qualified for his second NCAA Championship event. He also qualified for the NCAA Cross Country Championship this past fall. Coach (Jim) Sanchez has done a great job of developing this young man, and Joe has an amazing work ethic. He has worked as hard as any athlete I've seen to reach his full potential. He has a legitimate shot at the 10,000 meters. Even though he qualified 18th, the 10,000 meters is an event if you feel really strong on the day the race is run, anything can happen. "Andrea (Batt) had as good a season as any freshman in our conference. She has done a fantastic job, and is also very versatile, having competed in four different throwing events for us this year. I can't tell you how happy we are having her for the next three years. I told her to go and enjoy this experience -- there is no pressure, just see what happens. If she does well at this year's championship as a freshman, she has plenty of time to deal with the pressure of expectations. Andrea is capable of popping a big throw, so you never know what may happen. Coach (Paul) Barrett has a very good relationship with Andrea, and has really brought her along nicely this year. Paul has done a great job with all our throwers this season."
The schedule of events for the four Wyoming qualifiers are as follows: Date Event Wyoming Competitor Time (PT) Wed., May 30 Men's 10,000 meters Joe Hall 7:50 p.m. Thu., May 31 Men's Hammer Throw Jason Hammond 3:00 p.m. Friday, June 1 Men's Discus Throw Jason Gervais 3:00 p.m. Friday, June 1 Women's Javelin Andrea Batt 6:00 p.m.
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