T&F’s Prosper Nnamdi Wins Bronze on Day One of NCAA Championships
6/7/2023 11:33:00 PM | Track & Field
Conacher PRs to an All-America finish in the pole vault
By Jerry Hill
Baylor Bear Insider
AUSTIN – Battling with injuries pretty much the whole season, Baylor sophomore Chinecherem Prosper Nnamdi felt like he was finally 100% going into Wednesday's opening day of the NCAA Outdoor Track and Field Championships.
And he did record his best throw in over two months, but didn't respond when LSU's Tzuriel Pedigo moved past him on his third attempt of the opening round and finished third in the javelin with a throw of 257 feet, 1 inch.
"I'm not going to lie, I feel really, really bad," Nnamdi said, "because I know I have a lot more in the tank. I've been struggling throughout the season with injuries, but I thought I might be able to put it together at the end of the season. I didn't . . . but next season is going to be better."
Nicknamed "Zaza," Nnamdi highlighted Baylor's opening day and helped put the Bears on the board. Coupled with Ben Conacher's surprising tie for eighth in the pole vault, the Baylor men are tied for 12th through six of 21 events with 6.33 points.
"For him to go out there and compete hard – I know he was disappointed because he didn't win – but I'm still very proud of him," Baylor head coach Michael Ford said. "Going into the championship, sometimes you have to bring your 'A' game even more. . . . The thing is learning how to respond after someone throws something big or somebody jumps something big. You've got to respond. But later on, he'll think about it. I got third, I moved up two spots."
Struggling with a sore ankle, Zaza had only topped 250 feet once since a season-best throw of 262-5 in this same venue at the Texas Relays. But he popped a 254-10 on his first attempt to take the lead and bettered that mark with a 257-1 on his third attempt.
"I had a 77 (meter throw) and then a 78 in my third round, so that was pretty good," he said. "I always believe I'll come through on the fourth and fifth throw, but it seemed like it didn't happen in this meet. . . . My mind was really calm, but I was trying to fix some techniques. When it comes to it, I still missed it with my reaction point. I guess it wasn't the day for me."
Winning the event for the second time in three years, Pedigo had his winning throw of 261-9 in the third round and held on to beat Virginia's Ethan Dabbs (260-1). Defending champion Marc Minichello placed fourth at 253-6.
"I let my emotions get to me," said Zaza, who finished fifth last year as a freshman. "When (Pedigo) took the first position from me, I didn't put it together. I was struggling to get back to the first position. I've just got to listen to what my coach tells me to do."
Conacher, who qualified at the NCAA West Prelims with a career-best vault of 17-8 ½, was ranked 26th nationally coming into the meet. But he cleared his first three bars on first attempts, including another PR of 17-10 ½, and tied for eighth with Houston's Chris Sampy and Kentucky's Keaton Daniel to earn All-America honors.
"I thought it would take a big jump, and I'm definitely an underdog," Conacher said. "I think I've played that to my advantage. I knew if I was clean through 5.45 (meters), I would have a pretty good chance to be up there in the top eight. Towards the end there, I thought it was going to take 5.60 (meters, 18-4 ½), for sure. But a few big guys weren't able to clear it."
On his second attempt at 18-4 ½, Conacher said his "calves actually started cramping halfway down the runway."
"I think if my standards were five centimeters closer, I could have had it," he said. "I just came down on it a little bit. . . . I didn't think coming into this I'd be an All-American. But I knew there was a small chance. It's a little surreal."
Baylor didn't fare as well on the track, qualifying just one of its five individuals into Friday's finals. In easily the fastest of three heats, Nathaniel Ezekiel closed strong at the end and recorded the second-fastest time in the 400-meter hurdles at 48.95.
"My first five (hurdles) were good," Ezekiel said, "but my last five, I kept jamming my hurdles. But I qualified with the second-fastest time. if I get my techniques properly, I believe I'll actually bring it home."
Alabama's Chris Robinson had the fastest qualifying time of 48.79, with four of the fastest times coming in the same heat.
Baylor had a combined four entrants in the 200- and 400-meter semifinals, but Kamden Jackson was the only one who finished better than seventh in his heat. Jackson was fifth in his heat and 18th overall with a time of 20.52.
Demar Francis subbed in for an ailing Matthew Moorer on Baylor's 4x400-meter relay and helped the Bears post a season-best time of 3:00.58. Ezekiel joined Francis, Hasani Barr and Dillon Bedell in a group that had the sixth-fastest time in the semifinals.
Fourth in its heat at the halfway mark, Baylor got sub-45.0-second splits from Barr and Bedell on the final two legs and passed Texas A&M. Florida State won the third heat and posted the fastest time in the semifinals (2:58.62), with four others going under 3-flat.
"Literally, I'm the only one that I would say felt good today," Bedell said. "Everybody else was battling other races or their bodies just not feeling good. So, us fresh and healthy, I feel like we're really going to shake something up (in Friday's final)."
Ford said Moorer, who was "throwing up pretty much all day," could bounce back from the stomach bug by Friday's 10:21 p.m. final.
"I want the best four out there when they're ready to go," said Ford, who also has sprinter Kamden Jackson available as another relay option. "If (Moorer) is ready to go on Friday, then he'll run. But if not, we'll either run the same team, or I know Kamden Jackson was ready to run. We'll put our heads together and get the best four."
Thursday, the women are up next, with the 4x100 relay starting things off at 7:32 p.m. Baylor also has the 4x400 relay plus Mariah Ayers in the 200 meters and Gontse Morake in the 400 hurdles. Koi Johnson will compete in the triple jump finals on Saturday.
AUSTIN, Texas – Baylor track and field opened up the 2023 NCAA Outdoor Track and Field National Championships at Mike A. Myers Stadium on Wednesday evening. It was a big day for the field events, as Chinecherem Prosper Nnamdi and Ben Conacher left BU with 6.33 team points at the end of Day One.
THE RUNDOWN
Prosper Nnamdi, who finished fifth in the 2022 championship meet, came out on Wednesday and made a statement on his first throw. At the time, the 254-10 first attempt would mark already his second-best throw of the 2023 season.
After testing from LSU's 2021 javelin champion, Tzuriel Pedigo, Prosper Nnamdi threw a 257-1 throw and won bronze in the event. It marks his second All-American season in only his second attempt. Pedigo repeated as the 2023 champion and Virginia's Ethan Dabbs won his second-straight NCAA silver medal.
After a big showing in the NCAA West Regional, Conacher returned to the pole vault knowing it would take another big jump. With yet another personal best, the senior crossed 17-10 ½ and tied for eighth. Conacher closes his career as a Baylor Bear with an NCAA All-America trophy and some time on the championship podium.
Nathaniel Ezekiel posted the No. 2 mark of the night in the 400-meter hurdles on Wednesday, finishing second in his heat for a big Q. The sophomore went sub-49 for the third time this season running a 48.95.
The quartet of Demar Francis, Ezekiel, Hasani Barr and Dillon Bedell ran the third-fastest 4x400-meter relay time in program history to advance to Friday night's national final. The squad's 3:00.58 was the best BU time posted in the 2023 season and was enough for the second timed qualifying spot, joining UCLA's 2:59.51 and Texas A&M's 3:00.58.
Barr and Matthew Moorer closed their time in the 400 meters on Wednesday, with Barr's 46.15 and Moorer's 46.77 in the national semifinals. Shortly after, Francis and Kamden Jackson also closed their time in the 200 meters, with Jackson posting a 20.52, followed by a 20.73-second race from Francis.
QUOTABLE
Head coach Michael Ford
On Wednesday's competition…
"I think the guys had a solid first day in Austin. I am super proud of Zaza [Prosper Nnamdi] and Ben Conacher for getting on the podium. Zaza has been battling some soreness for the season, and I know he was disappointed he didn't win, but I'm very proud of him. He'll think on it and get ready to qualify for the World Championships. And Ben has worked so hard. He's battled some injuries, too. The one thing he never did was he never gave up on himself. He kept persevering through the season, and for him to make All-American and also PR in the same meet, I can't say anything else. I am so proud of the work from Coach [Jeff] Chak and Coach [Brandon] Richards with all they've done.
Sophomore Chinecherem Prosper Nnamdi
On finishing third at nationals…
"I think I got a good mark in the opening round. I had, like, a 77 and a 78 (meters) in my third round, so that was pretty good. I know I have a lot more in the tank, but I still have national tryouts back in my country. I still have a few meets coming up for me to be able to qualify for the World Championships, which I know I might not be able to hit the standard, but I know I might be close to 81 or 82 meters pretty soon."
Senior Ben Conacher
On ending his BU career as an All-American…
"I thought it would take a big jump, and I'm definitely an underdog, and I think I've played that to my advantage. I knew if I was clean through 5.45, which was 17-10 ½, that would be a pretty good chance I'd be up there in the top eight. It's just surreal. I didn't think coming into this I'd be an All-American. But I knew there was a shot. I knew there was a small chance. And I mean, it feels great."
WHAT'S NEXT
The Baylor women open up their portion of the NCAA Outdoor National Championships on Thursday. The 4x100 opens the night for the Bears at 7:30 p.m. CT.
Baylor Bear Insider
AUSTIN – Battling with injuries pretty much the whole season, Baylor sophomore Chinecherem Prosper Nnamdi felt like he was finally 100% going into Wednesday's opening day of the NCAA Outdoor Track and Field Championships.
And he did record his best throw in over two months, but didn't respond when LSU's Tzuriel Pedigo moved past him on his third attempt of the opening round and finished third in the javelin with a throw of 257 feet, 1 inch.
"I'm not going to lie, I feel really, really bad," Nnamdi said, "because I know I have a lot more in the tank. I've been struggling throughout the season with injuries, but I thought I might be able to put it together at the end of the season. I didn't . . . but next season is going to be better."
Nicknamed "Zaza," Nnamdi highlighted Baylor's opening day and helped put the Bears on the board. Coupled with Ben Conacher's surprising tie for eighth in the pole vault, the Baylor men are tied for 12th through six of 21 events with 6.33 points.
"For him to go out there and compete hard – I know he was disappointed because he didn't win – but I'm still very proud of him," Baylor head coach Michael Ford said. "Going into the championship, sometimes you have to bring your 'A' game even more. . . . The thing is learning how to respond after someone throws something big or somebody jumps something big. You've got to respond. But later on, he'll think about it. I got third, I moved up two spots."
Struggling with a sore ankle, Zaza had only topped 250 feet once since a season-best throw of 262-5 in this same venue at the Texas Relays. But he popped a 254-10 on his first attempt to take the lead and bettered that mark with a 257-1 on his third attempt.
"I had a 77 (meter throw) and then a 78 in my third round, so that was pretty good," he said. "I always believe I'll come through on the fourth and fifth throw, but it seemed like it didn't happen in this meet. . . . My mind was really calm, but I was trying to fix some techniques. When it comes to it, I still missed it with my reaction point. I guess it wasn't the day for me."
Winning the event for the second time in three years, Pedigo had his winning throw of 261-9 in the third round and held on to beat Virginia's Ethan Dabbs (260-1). Defending champion Marc Minichello placed fourth at 253-6.
"I let my emotions get to me," said Zaza, who finished fifth last year as a freshman. "When (Pedigo) took the first position from me, I didn't put it together. I was struggling to get back to the first position. I've just got to listen to what my coach tells me to do."
Conacher, who qualified at the NCAA West Prelims with a career-best vault of 17-8 ½, was ranked 26th nationally coming into the meet. But he cleared his first three bars on first attempts, including another PR of 17-10 ½, and tied for eighth with Houston's Chris Sampy and Kentucky's Keaton Daniel to earn All-America honors.
"I thought it would take a big jump, and I'm definitely an underdog," Conacher said. "I think I've played that to my advantage. I knew if I was clean through 5.45 (meters), I would have a pretty good chance to be up there in the top eight. Towards the end there, I thought it was going to take 5.60 (meters, 18-4 ½), for sure. But a few big guys weren't able to clear it."
On his second attempt at 18-4 ½, Conacher said his "calves actually started cramping halfway down the runway."
"I think if my standards were five centimeters closer, I could have had it," he said. "I just came down on it a little bit. . . . I didn't think coming into this I'd be an All-American. But I knew there was a small chance. It's a little surreal."
Baylor didn't fare as well on the track, qualifying just one of its five individuals into Friday's finals. In easily the fastest of three heats, Nathaniel Ezekiel closed strong at the end and recorded the second-fastest time in the 400-meter hurdles at 48.95.
"My first five (hurdles) were good," Ezekiel said, "but my last five, I kept jamming my hurdles. But I qualified with the second-fastest time. if I get my techniques properly, I believe I'll actually bring it home."
Alabama's Chris Robinson had the fastest qualifying time of 48.79, with four of the fastest times coming in the same heat.
Baylor had a combined four entrants in the 200- and 400-meter semifinals, but Kamden Jackson was the only one who finished better than seventh in his heat. Jackson was fifth in his heat and 18th overall with a time of 20.52.
Demar Francis subbed in for an ailing Matthew Moorer on Baylor's 4x400-meter relay and helped the Bears post a season-best time of 3:00.58. Ezekiel joined Francis, Hasani Barr and Dillon Bedell in a group that had the sixth-fastest time in the semifinals.
Fourth in its heat at the halfway mark, Baylor got sub-45.0-second splits from Barr and Bedell on the final two legs and passed Texas A&M. Florida State won the third heat and posted the fastest time in the semifinals (2:58.62), with four others going under 3-flat.
"Literally, I'm the only one that I would say felt good today," Bedell said. "Everybody else was battling other races or their bodies just not feeling good. So, us fresh and healthy, I feel like we're really going to shake something up (in Friday's final)."
Ford said Moorer, who was "throwing up pretty much all day," could bounce back from the stomach bug by Friday's 10:21 p.m. final.
"I want the best four out there when they're ready to go," said Ford, who also has sprinter Kamden Jackson available as another relay option. "If (Moorer) is ready to go on Friday, then he'll run. But if not, we'll either run the same team, or I know Kamden Jackson was ready to run. We'll put our heads together and get the best four."
Thursday, the women are up next, with the 4x100 relay starting things off at 7:32 p.m. Baylor also has the 4x400 relay plus Mariah Ayers in the 200 meters and Gontse Morake in the 400 hurdles. Koi Johnson will compete in the triple jump finals on Saturday.
AUSTIN, Texas – Baylor track and field opened up the 2023 NCAA Outdoor Track and Field National Championships at Mike A. Myers Stadium on Wednesday evening. It was a big day for the field events, as Chinecherem Prosper Nnamdi and Ben Conacher left BU with 6.33 team points at the end of Day One.
THE RUNDOWN
Prosper Nnamdi, who finished fifth in the 2022 championship meet, came out on Wednesday and made a statement on his first throw. At the time, the 254-10 first attempt would mark already his second-best throw of the 2023 season.
After testing from LSU's 2021 javelin champion, Tzuriel Pedigo, Prosper Nnamdi threw a 257-1 throw and won bronze in the event. It marks his second All-American season in only his second attempt. Pedigo repeated as the 2023 champion and Virginia's Ethan Dabbs won his second-straight NCAA silver medal.
After a big showing in the NCAA West Regional, Conacher returned to the pole vault knowing it would take another big jump. With yet another personal best, the senior crossed 17-10 ½ and tied for eighth. Conacher closes his career as a Baylor Bear with an NCAA All-America trophy and some time on the championship podium.
Nathaniel Ezekiel posted the No. 2 mark of the night in the 400-meter hurdles on Wednesday, finishing second in his heat for a big Q. The sophomore went sub-49 for the third time this season running a 48.95.
The quartet of Demar Francis, Ezekiel, Hasani Barr and Dillon Bedell ran the third-fastest 4x400-meter relay time in program history to advance to Friday night's national final. The squad's 3:00.58 was the best BU time posted in the 2023 season and was enough for the second timed qualifying spot, joining UCLA's 2:59.51 and Texas A&M's 3:00.58.
Barr and Matthew Moorer closed their time in the 400 meters on Wednesday, with Barr's 46.15 and Moorer's 46.77 in the national semifinals. Shortly after, Francis and Kamden Jackson also closed their time in the 200 meters, with Jackson posting a 20.52, followed by a 20.73-second race from Francis.
QUOTABLE
Head coach Michael Ford
On Wednesday's competition…
"I think the guys had a solid first day in Austin. I am super proud of Zaza [Prosper Nnamdi] and Ben Conacher for getting on the podium. Zaza has been battling some soreness for the season, and I know he was disappointed he didn't win, but I'm very proud of him. He'll think on it and get ready to qualify for the World Championships. And Ben has worked so hard. He's battled some injuries, too. The one thing he never did was he never gave up on himself. He kept persevering through the season, and for him to make All-American and also PR in the same meet, I can't say anything else. I am so proud of the work from Coach [Jeff] Chak and Coach [Brandon] Richards with all they've done.
Sophomore Chinecherem Prosper Nnamdi
On finishing third at nationals…
"I think I got a good mark in the opening round. I had, like, a 77 and a 78 (meters) in my third round, so that was pretty good. I know I have a lot more in the tank, but I still have national tryouts back in my country. I still have a few meets coming up for me to be able to qualify for the World Championships, which I know I might not be able to hit the standard, but I know I might be close to 81 or 82 meters pretty soon."
Senior Ben Conacher
On ending his BU career as an All-American…
"I thought it would take a big jump, and I'm definitely an underdog, and I think I've played that to my advantage. I knew if I was clean through 5.45, which was 17-10 ½, that would be a pretty good chance I'd be up there in the top eight. It's just surreal. I didn't think coming into this I'd be an All-American. But I knew there was a shot. I knew there was a small chance. And I mean, it feels great."
WHAT'S NEXT
The Baylor women open up their portion of the NCAA Outdoor National Championships on Thursday. The 4x100 opens the night for the Bears at 7:30 p.m. CT.
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