UO release – Duck men qualify two for NCAA Championships, and the Women of Oregon also advanced five into regional quarterfinals.  BRYAN-COLLEGE STATION, Texas – The Women of Oregon picked up their second and third national qualifiers Thursday at the NCAA West First Round. Diana Cherotich and Emily Fitzsimmons advance to the NCAA Championships in the 10,000 meters and pole vault, respectively. The Ducks also placed five into the next round of the regional meet.  The UO women began the meet having already secured a national qualifier with Annika Williams in the heptathlon. The Big Ten champion scored a lifetime-best 5,914 points at the conference meet and will be making her third appearance at the NCAA Outdoor Championships, and second in the heptathlon.  On the strength of a lifetime-best clearance of 4.42m/14-6, Fitzsimmons is into the NCAA meet for the first time in her career. She was 4-for-4 on attempts and strengthened her No. 3 standing in UO history. Fitzsimmons was one of two in the field to not miss during the competition and becomes Oregon's first national qualifier in the women's pole vault since Sammie Clark in 2014.  Fitzsimmons came into the season with a personal best of 13-9.25 from last year's NCAA West regional in Arkansas. Including the indoor season, she has now cleared 14 feet in four meets this year.  Cherotich, the Big Ten champion at 10,000 meters, continued her stellar freshman campaign with her NCAA qualifying run Thursday evening. In the final race of the night, she crossed in 33:43.18 to finish as the second-overall qualifier. The lead group of 11 pulled away from the field with approximately 12 laps to go. Cherotich and eventual winner Pamela Kosgei of New Mexico took over the lead with six to go.  Aaliyah McCormick was the fastest in the opening heats of the 100-meter hurdles. The Big Ten champ stopped the clock in a season's best 12.82, just .01 off her lifetime best. McCormick, now a three-time regional qualifier, was making her debut appearance at the meet having missed the previous two with an injury.  The UO women advanced three into the next round of the 1500 meters with the trio of Silan Ayyildiz, Klaudia Kazimierska and Mia Barnett. Ayyildiz (4:14.26) was the fourth fastest overall and Kazimierska (4:16.93) and Barnett (4:19.17) each won their heat to secure their spots in the quarterfinal round.  Ella Nelson added to the middle-distance success with her advancing effort in the 800 meters. She was second in her heat with a time of 2:05.19, good for an automatic bid into Saturday's quarterfinal round. Nelson will be making a third-career appearance in the regional quarterfinals, having advanced to the NCAA meet in 2023.  The top 12—through varying advance policies—in Saturday's races qualify for the NCAA Championships in Eugene.  Notable:  Lily Jones ran a season's best 11.42 in the first round of the 100 meters but did not advance; she will return Saturday as a leg of the 4x100 relay … competing out of the third flight of four, Kohana Nakato (49.14m/161-3) finished 17th in the javelin … Isabella Nilsen had a clearance of 4.17m/13-8.25 during the pole vault, just off her outdoor best of 13-8.5; finished tied for 20th overall.