Baylor T&F’s Prosper Nnamdi Wins Bronze on Day One of NCAA Championships
AUSTIN, Texas – Baylor track and field opened up the 2023 NCAA Outdoor Track and Field National Championships at Mike A. Myers Stadium on Wednesday evening. It was a big day for the field events, as Chinecherem Prosper Nnamdi and Ben Conacher left BU with 6.33 team points at the end of Day One.
THE RUNDOWN
Prosper Nnamdi, who finished fifth in the 2022 championship meet, came out on Wednesday and made a statement on his first throw. At the time, the 254-10 first attempt would mark already his second-best throw of the 2023 season.
After testing from LSU’s 2021 javelin champion, Tzuriel Pedigo, Prosper Nnamdi threw a 257-1 throw and won bronze in the event. It marks his second All-American season in only his second attempt. Pedigo repeated as the 2023 champion and Virginia’s Ethan Dabbs won his second-straight NCAA silver medal.
After a big showing in the NCAA West Regional, Conacher returned to the pole vault knowing it would take another big jump. With yet another personal best, the senior crossed 17-10 ½ and tied for eighth. Conacher closes his career as a Baylor Bear with an NCAA All-America trophy and some time on the championship podium.
Nathaniel Ezekiel posted the No. 2 mark of the night in the 400-meter hurdles on Wednesday, finishing second in his heat for a big Q. The sophomore went sub-49 for the third time this season running a 48.95.
The quartet of Demar Francis, Ezekiel, Hasani Barr and Dillon Bedell ran the third-fastest 4x400-meter relay time in program history to advance to Friday night’s national final. The squad’s 3:00.58 was the best BU time posted in the 2023 season and was enough for the second timed qualifying spot, joining UCLA’s 2:59.51 and Texas A&M’s 3:00.58.
Barr and Matthew Moorer closed their time in the 400 meters on Wednesday, with Barr’s 46.15 and Moorer’s 46.77 in the national semifinals. Shortly after, Francis and Kamden Jackson also closed their time in the 200 meters, with Jackson posting a 20.52, followed by a 20.73-second race from Francis.
QUOTABLE
Head coach Michael Ford
On Wednesday’s competition…
“I think the guys had a solid first day in Austin. I am super proud of Zaza [Prosper Nnamdi] and Ben Conacher for getting on the podium. Zaza has been battling some soreness for the season, and I know he was disappointed he didn’t win, but I’m very proud of him. He’ll think on it and get ready to qualify for the World Championships. And Ben has worked so hard. He’s battled some injuries, too. The one thing he never did was he never gave up on himself. He kept persevering through the season, and for him to make All-American and also PR in the same meet, I can’t say anything else. I am so proud of the work from Coach [Jeff] Chak and Coach [Brandon] Richards with all they’ve done.
Sophomore Chinecherem Prosper Nnamdi
On finishing third at nationals…
“I think I got a good mark in the opening round. I had, like, a 77 and a 78 (meters) in my third round, so that was pretty good. I know I have a lot more in the tank, but I still have national tryouts back in my country. I still have a few meets coming up for me to be able to qualify for the World Championships, which I know I might not be able to hit the standard, but I know I might be close to 81 or 82 meters pretty soon.”
Senior Ben Conacher
On ending his BU career as an All-American…
“I thought it would take a big jump, and I’m definitely an underdog, and I think I’ve played that to my advantage. I knew if I was clean through 5.45, which was 17-10 ½, that would be a pretty good chance I’d be up there in the top eight. It’s just surreal. I didn’t think coming into this I’d be an All-American. But I knew there was a shot. I knew there was a small chance. And I mean, it feels great.”
WHAT’S NEXT
The Baylor women open up their portion of the NCAA Outdoor National Championships on Thursday. The 4x100 opens the night for the Bears at 7:30 p.m. CT.