University students make historic trip
to NCAA Track and Field Championships
Daniel Imlach (left) and Raphael McFarlan
For the first time in school history, Sacramento State had two student-athletes at the NCAA Division I Indoor Track and Field Championships, March 14-15 in Fayetteville, Ark.
Seniors Raphael McFarlane and Daniel Imlach qualified for the meet. McFarlane competed in the long jump and Imlach in the pole vault. This was the first appearance for either at the indoor championships.
At the meet, McFarlane earned All-America honors after a long jump of 24-09.75. He placed 13th overall in the field. However, he had the eighth best mark by American student-athletes and become the first Division I Indoor All-American in Sacramento State history.
Imlach missed receiving All-American honors by one point. He cleared 17-00.75 in the high jump and finished in a five-way tie for 10th place.
The path to the championships was very different for the two. McFarlane met the provisional standard in the long jump Feb. 9 at the Mountain States Games in Pocatello, Idaho, with a jump of 25-07.75.
Imlach met the provisional mark in the pole vault at the University of Washington’s Last Chance Qualifier in Seattle March 15 and 16. His mark of 17-06.50 broke his own school record and is the 12th best in Division I this season.
McFarlane, who was named the Big Sky Conference Male Track and Field Athlete of the Meet at the conference championships earlier this month, leaves Sacramento State as one of two men to have qualified for both the NCAA Division I Outdoor and Indoor Track and Field Championships. McFarlane qualified for last season's outdoor championships in the 100-meter dash.
