FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — The University of Wyoming’s Mason Finley continued a stellar career on Saturday at the NCAA West Preliminary, as he threw the discus 197-2 to finish fourth in the event and punch his ticket to the NCAA Championships in Eugene, Ore. Finley is just the second UW track and field athlete ever to advance to the national meet under the current qualifying system and the first since 2010.

“Mason did a nice job of getting through this meet and that was the goal,” UW associate head coach Paul Barrett said. “We shut it down after three throws due to the long wait with the big field and some back tightness, but he did his job to secure a spot for the NCAA Championships.”

Junior Paul Thomas nearly joined Finley at the national meet, as he placed 16th in the discus at 179-11. He was just 6 feet shy of the 12th and final qualifying spot.

“I thought Paul competed very well by making the finals, but just came up a little short of making it to Eugene,” Barrett said. “This will give him great confidence heading into his senior year next year towards making that final cut.”

Junior Shreese Daniels placed 40th in the hammer on Saturday with a toss of 167-9, while sophomore Scott Carter was 43rd in the triple jump at 46-8 1/4 and sophomore Amos Bowen was 45th in the 5,000 meters in 15:27. Wyoming scratched out of the 4x100-meter relay.

The men’s discus will be contested at the NCAA Championships at 5 p.m. Friday, June 13.

Mason Finley