Wyoming junior star Ja’la Henderson has qualified for the NCAA Championships in both the long and triple jump from the regional meet in Sacramento, CA.

Henderson punched her ticket to Eugene, OR for the 2018 NCAA Outdoor Track and Field Championships last Thursday in the long jump. She followed that with a statement win in the triple jump Saturday. Only the top 12 in each event advanced from the NCAA West Preliminary Meet to the NCAA Championships June 6-9 in Eugene.

The junior won the triple jump with a new school record 44 feet-3.5 inches on her first attempt. Henderson’s margin of victory was more than an inch-and-a-half. It’s the fourth time this season she’s broke the UW school record and second consecutive meet. Henderson just began competing in the triple jump four months ago.

Wyoming associate head coach Quincy Howe said Saturday night after Henderson’s win,

“With Ja’la’s performance today, it just shows how much room she has to grow in the event. The accomplishment of winning the West regional shows her resolve and her ability to step up her desire to win in the midst of challenges from the best (jumpers) in the entire nation.”

Henderson knew she was already going to Oregon after the long jump last Thursday. She placed eighth with a leap of 20 feet-0.5 inches and was only four inches from second place. Ironically, Henderson’s best long jump also was on her first attempt. She came in seeded 34th.

Next up is the NCAA Championships. Henderson will compete in the long jump June 7 at 6:30 p.m., Mountain Time. She will then follow that in the triple jump on June 9 at 4:40 p.m., MT.

In addition to Henderson’s accomplishments, some more Cowboys and Cowgirls came close to advancing past the regional meet.

Redshirt freshmen Harry Ewing fell just short in the 3,000-meter steeplechase. Ewing took 15th place with a time of 8:46.81. That’s the fourth-best time in school history.

Junior Emelda Malm-Annan finished 18th in the women’s hammer throw. Her best throw was 198 feet-6 inches and matched her personal best. She missed qualification by less than three feet.

Sophomore Daniel Hintz made it past the first round in the men’s 1500-meters last Thursday, as he grabbed a top-five automatic qualification spot in his heat. He ran in the quarterfinals Saturday and came in 21st place. Hintz’ time was 3:48.62.

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