Mizzou’s Barrios takes first in javelin throw on Day 2 of NCAA West First Round

The Mizzou women’s javelin team has been ranked No. 1 in the nation for over two months. It lived up to the ranking at the NCAA West First Round.

Mizzou thrower Valentina Barrios qualified for NCAA Outdoor Track & Field Championships after taking first place in women’s javelin at the West First Round on Thursday. She entered the competition ranked second in the region but claimed first after throwing a distance of 188 feet, 2 inches, clearing her path to Eugene, Oregon, to defend her NCAA Outdoors title.

Skylar Ciccolini, who entered the competition ranked third in the West, finished 11th on the day, throwing for a distance of 165-8. She also is headed to Eugene.

The pair will next represent the Tigers on the national stage beginning June 10 at Hayward Field in Eugene.

Nonqualifiers

Val Galligan placed 18th in javelin despite throwing a season-best mark of 159-2, while Morgan Cannon finished 36th with a mark of 147-9.

Petra Gombas was Mizzou’s lone representative in the women’s hammer throw but failed to qualify after placing 19th in the event, an improvement from her No. 26 West rank entering the day. She threw for a distance of 198-4.

Suzy LeCoutre competed in the 1,500-meter run, finishing with a time of 4 minutes, 20.93 seconds to place 26th in the event.

Monica Wanjiku entered the 10,000 seeded 15th and finished in the same spot, ending with a time of 33:08.68. Her season isn’t over, though.

Next up

On the men’s side, Dillon Leacock will compete in the 400-meter hurdles quarterfinals Friday after advancing Wednesday. Elijah Limo and Joshua Allison will both be in the 3,000-meter steeplechase. Allison is seeded ninth, while Limo is seeded 13th.

For the women, Wanjiku is seeded 49th in the 5,000 and will compete in the event Saturday.

Marlena Tresnjo will enter the women’s high jump ranked No. 18 in the region, while Ames Burton is the No. 22 seed in the discus. Both will compete Saturday.