T&F: Prince, Franklin, Spencer Advance at NCAA West

NCAA WEST RESULTS

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – Baylor's trio of Demario Prince, Malik Franklin and Aren Spencer advanced through the first round on Wednesday at the NCAA West Prelims at John McDonnell Field.

With the schedule adjusted because of anticipated inclement weather, Prince got things off on the right foot by winning his heat and posting the fifth-fastest time overall in the 110-meter hurdles at 13.38 seconds. A bronze medalist indoors, Prince advances to Thursday's quarterfinal round, with a chance to earn a trip to the NCAA Championship in Eugene, Ore.

"Demario looked good; he just does what he does," Baylor coach Michael Ford said. "For him, it's just continuing to find the rhythm of the hurdle race. But I think on Friday, he'll push it a little bit more. I don't think he had a great warmup. He really only got like one block start. Usually, you want to at least get about three or four."

The Bears went two-for-two in the 400 meters, with Franklin placing third in his heat with the 14^th-fastest time at 45.92, while Spencer grabbed the final qualifying spot at 46.18. Fifth in his heat, Spencer edged Arkansas' Zander Cruzan by one hundredth of a second to advance.

"Aren, not making it last year in the quarter but now making it into the quarterfinals. And I still think he has a little bit more left in the tank," Ford said. "I thought he went out a little bit quick and pushed a little bit longer than I wanted. If we can back off that, and he can finish better, I'm praying that can get him in."

Ford said Franklin did the opposite, getting out too slow and having to pass three runners in the last 100 meters to finish in the top three of his heat.

"I wasn't pleased with the execution, but he got through," Ford said. "On Friday, he just needs to put together a better first half, and I think he could get into the top 12."

Laurenz Colbert was the only other Baylor competitor on Wednesday, failing to advance in either the 100 (10.36) or 200 meters (20.93), well off his season-best times.

One of three events Wednesday night that were either postponed or delayed, the men's pole vault was rescheduled for 2:40 p.m. Thursday. Sophomore Parker Brannon goes into the meet with the 30^th-best mark in the region at 17 feet, 3 inches.

The rest of Thursday's event schedule shifts to the women's side, with Baylor having 15 individual entrants combined in the 100, 200, 10,000 meters, 400-meter hurdles, long jump and pole vault.

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THURSDAY'S SCHEDULE OF EVENTS

Men's pole vault: Parker Brannon, 2:40 p.m.
Women's long jump: Janae De Gannes, 6:30 p.m.
Women's pole vault: Molly Haywood, Tenly Kuhn, Alencia Lentz, 7 p.m.
Women's 100 meters: Tiriah Kelley, Janae De Gannes, Success Oyibu, Royaltee Brown, Hannah Lowe, 7 p.m.
Women's 400m hurdles: Serafima Lucero, 8:20 p.m.
Women's 200 meters: Tiriah Kelley, Success Oyibu, Royaltee Brown, Hannah Lowe, 8:45 p.m.
Women's 10,000 meters: Ruth Kimeli, 9:10 p.m.

- BaylorBears.com -

T&F: Prince, Franklin, Spencer Advance at NCAA West

Players Mentioned

Parker Brannon

Royaltee Brown

Laurenz Colbert

Janae De Gannes

Malik Franklin

Molly Haywood

Tiriah Kelley

Ruth Kimeli

Tenly Kuhn

Alencia Lentz

Hannah Lowe

Serafima Lucero

Success Oyibu

Demario Prince

Aren Spencer

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