Christin Wurth is a force to be reckoned with.
“I am ready to go and in the best shape of my life,” Wurth said Thursday after qualifying for the women’s 1,500m semifinals. “I’ve had a great season so far and I’m having fun.”
The 2007 USA Outdoor runner-up in the 1,500m – whose seed time came at the Prefontaine Classic in June – edged out Tiffany McWilliams in the first qualifying heat to post Thursday’s best time, 4:13.40. Her time bettered that of top seed Shannon Rowbury by two and a half seconds.
“We were kind of going so slow that it was almost uncomfortable,” Wurth said of her heat.
Sixth-seeded Lindsey Gallo won the third heat of the day, outlasting Treniere Clement to finish in 4:17.01. Clement clocked 4:17.33.
“I feel confident I can come in here and make the team,” Clement said. “That’s my goal. To me this meet isn’t about time, it’s about placing. My coach told me to be aware of where I am and get in the top six.”
Oregon Track Club Elite’s Mary Jayne Reeves finished third in her heat and moved on as well, one of four women with Eugene ties who advanced in their respective events Thursday.
A pair of high school girls, Christine Babcock and Jordan Hasay, also qualified for the semifinals. Hasay said she had to leave today for the World Junior Championships in Poland and was unlikely to run in the semifinal.
Former Duck Brittany Hinchcliffe had the ninth-best throw overall in the preliminaries of the hammer throw, a 214-8 that advanced her to the final on Saturday.
Cari Soong of Team XO, who is a volunteer assistant coach at Oregon, also advanced, throwing 212-4.
Former Duck All-American Britney Henry never found a good throw, maxing out at 207-0, well short of her personal best of 225-5.
Jessica Cosby was the only thrower to hit the automatic qualifier into the final, a mark she hit on her first throw of 228-8.
Becky Holliday, another former Duck, was one of 12 pole vaulters to clear at least 13-9.25 to move on to the final scheduled for Sunday afternoon. She cleared 13-9.25 on her first attempt before taking two attempts at 14-1.25.
Two-time U.S. champion and 2008 World Championships silver medalist Jenn Stuczynski and 2000 Olympic gold medalist Stacy Dragila advanced without a miss.
“Qualifying rounds are always stressful, but I think it went all right,” Stuczynski said. “It all comes down to the finals now and I am prepared to jump what I need to.”
In the shot put, top seed Jillian Camarena and third seed Michelle Carter advanced without incident, with Carter’s throw of 60-1.75 traveling the farthest distance on the day. Two-time NCAA champion and Arizona State graduate Jessica Pressley struggled in qualifying and ended up in seventh place.
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Robert Husseman contributed to this story.