Cook Qualifies for NCAA Championships

Thursday, May 24

Tampa, FL

11:30 AM

Army West Point

NCAA Preliminary Round

Cook Qualifies for NCAA Championships

May 26, 2018 | Men's Track and Field

TAMPA, Fla. – Rookie August Cook of the Army West Point track and field team qualified for the NCAA Championships with a top-five performance in the javelin throw on the final day of the NCAA East Regionals at the USF Track and Field Stadium on Saturday.

COACH'S QUOTES
"The rain today was torrential. It was like standing under a waterfall at times, but I thought our guys handled it really well. There was no quit in them, and they made the right adjustments. Jeff made his first two bards in the high jump on the first attempt and really looked good going into the next bar raised to 6'11, but he just couldn't put it together. He had such a good year and, while his season comes to a close today, he really made some significant improvements and is such a positive kid that I think he will get through to the NCAA meet before his career is over.

"The javelin guys also competed really well. I know it didn't work out for Grayson, but he is young and will get another shot here next year. August Cook was the story of the day for us. He kept telling coach Posillico that he hoped the conditions would worsen because he was unfazed by it. The wind was pretty strong and the rain was constant, but despite those elements August had the best three-throw series of his career. His last throw was his best and came at a time when the conditions were probably the most adverse. He threw very close to his personal best today and didn't even blink. That kid is tough. Coach Posillico did a nice job with him this spring. I always tell the athletes that if they perform at the level that got them here, they will be very competitive. August did that and more today. He came in ranked 31^st and finished fifth. Maybe the most remarkable aspect of his achievement is that he is only a plebe. His qualification is a milestone of sorts for the Army program. This is the first time we had an NCAA qualifier since Dominick Sylve in 2011 and our first javelin qualifier since Adam Burke in 2004."

ARMY HIGHLIGHTS AND GAME NOTES

August Cook had throws of 64.86 meters (212 ft., 9 in.), 64.78 meters (212 ft., 6 in.) and 65.85 meters (216 ft. 0 in.).
He ranked fifth out of 48 competitors in the javelin throw and was one of 12 who qualified for NCAAs.
Cook was nearly within half a meter of his personal best of 66.36 meters, which he set at the Patriot League Championships.
It was the sixth-best javelin throw in program history.

FIELD EVENTS

Cook qualified for the NCAA Championships with a fifth-place showing in the javelin with a toss of 65.85 meters.
Grayson Hill finished 42nd in the event with a throw of 55.67 meters.
Jeff Giannettino tied for 16th in the high jump, clearing the bar at 2.06 meters.

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