FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — One year ago this week, Andrew Dubs was in discussions with Arizona Athletics about becoming the Wildcats' next head coach.

Twelve months later, Dubs has Arizona headed back to Hayward Field with 19 student-athletes and relay alternates qualified for the NCAA Outdoor Championships following a record-setting performance at the NCAA West First Round in Fayetteville.

The Wildcats were powered by school records, lifetime-best performances, and a historic showing in the women's high jump as Arizona qualified athletes in 12 events for the national championships. To qualify for Eugene, athletes had to place within the top 12 in each event.

"It was incredible to watch them come back after the high of Big 12 Championships and compete the way they did," Dubs said. "The results were off the charts. We are sending way more to Oregon than we had ranked coming into this meet. It was a remarkable performance from day one across the board, and I could not be more proud of these athletes."

Hollan Powers is the only Arizona multi-athlete to qualify for nationals doing so in April at the Brian Clay Multi Event with a lifetime best of 5,789 points.

However, this weekend was headlined by senior sprinter Mason Lawyer, who became the only Wildcat to qualify in three events.

Lawyer broke his own school record twice in the men's 100 meters, running 10.12 in the opening round before lowering the mark to 10.03 in the quarterfinals to finish third overall in the West Region. The senior later qualified in the 200 meters after posting a 20.28 and helped Arizona's 4x100-meter relay secure a trip to Eugene.

The relay quartet of Parker Duskin, John Paredes, James Onanubosi, and Lawyer advanced with a time of 39.02.

Paredes also qualified individually in the 110-meter hurdles for the first time in his career, clocking 13.47 to finish 11th overall.

In the field events, Big 12 champion Tyler Michelini continued his standout season by finishing fourth overall in the shot put with a throw of 19.78m (64-10.75), while Sam Hala'Ufia advanced in the discus and freshman Antone Smith punched his ticket in the triple jump.

The women delivered one of the most significant storylines of the weekend.

For the first time since 1985, Arizona qualified three women's high jumpers for the NCAA Championships as Emma Gates, Kya Crooke, and Paris Mikinski all earned trips to Eugene. Mikinski finished tied for first after flawleslly bypassing each height on the first attempts. 

The accomplishment ties the current group to one of the most decorated high jump traditions in collegiate track and field history. The last Arizona team to send three women's high jumpers to nationals went on to finish first, second, and third at the NCAA Championships.

Arizona also received qualifying performances from Erin Tack in the javelin, Sydnie Vanek with a lifetime best mark of 6.63m (21-9) in the long jump. Taylen Wise also clocked a lifetime best in the 100-meter hurdles finally breaking the 13-second barrier with a time of 12.95. 

The Wildcats' women's 4x100-meter relay of Hollan Powers, Wise, Brooke Lyons, and McKenna Watson added another historic moment, breaking the school record for the third time this season running 43.28 to place third overall while advancing to Eugene.

McKenna Watson automatically advanced to the quarterfinals in both the 100m and 200m after running 11.50 and 23.22, respectively, in the opening round. She ultimately finished 24th in the 100m and 23rd in the 200m. James Onanubosi also advanced to the quarterfinals of the 200m after clocking 20.68 in the first round before finishing 23rd overall.

Freshman Evans Tanui narrowly missed a trip to Eugene after finishing 10th overall in the 5,000m with a time of 13:44.78. Tanui placed eighth in his heat, just outside the automatic qualifying positions, as the top five finishers from each heat and the next two fastest times advanced to the NCAA Championships.

Arizona will compete at the NCAA Outdoor Championships June 10-13 at Hayward Field in Eugene, Oregon.

ARIZONA NCAA CHAMPIONSHIP QUALIFIERS

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WOMEN

NCAA CHAMPIONSHIPS QUALIFIER NOTES

• Arizona qualified 19 student-athletes including three relay alternates for the NCAA Outdoor Championships.
• Mason Lawyer became the only Wildcat to qualify in three events.
• Lawyer broke the Arizona school record in the men's 100m twice, lowering the mark to 10.03. 
• Arizona qualified three women's high jumpers for the NCAA Championships for the first time since 1985.
• The women's 4x100 relay broke the school record for the third time this season.
• Taylen Wise and Sydnie Vanek both produced lifetime-best performances to qualify for Eugene.