The Rice women's track and field team, ranked No. 28, is set for the NCAA West Prelims in Fayetteville, Arkansas, with 12 athletes qualifying for various events. The four-day meet starts on May 27, featuring competitors in disciplines such as javelin, high jump, and relays. Mckyla Van der Westhuizen leads the javelin squad with a regional-best throw of 59.06 meters. Other notable qualifiers include Julia Johannesdottir in the 100m hurdles and Savannah Simms in the triple jump, both aiming for advancement to the NCAA Championships in Eugene, Oregon.

By the Numbers
  • Mckyla Van der Westhuizen’s javelin throw ranks 1st in the region at 59.06m.
  • Julia Johannesdottir holds the 7th-best time in the 100m hurdles with a school record of 13.02 seconds.
  • The Rice 4x400m relay team is seeded 22nd with a time of 3:34.06.
Yes, But

While the Rice team is highly competitive, they face tough contenders from other universities at the prelims, and only the top 12 from each region will qualify for the championship meet.

State of Play
  • The Owls are coming off a championship win at the American Conference, with coach Jim Bevan being named Coach of the Year.
  • Mckyla Van der Westhuizen, a standout performer, leads her event, boosting the team's confidence.
What's Next

Following the preliminaries, the top performers will move on to the NCAA Championships in Eugene, Oregon, scheduled for June, where they will compete for national titles.

Bottom Line

The Rice women's track and field team's strong roster at the NCAA West Prelims highlights their potential to advance to the national championships, continuing their successful season under veteran leadership.