East Carolina University
NCAA Outdoor Championships
Pirates Exit NCAA Track Championships After First Day
June 07, 2006 | Men's Track and Field
June 7, 2006
SACRAMENTO, Calif. - East Carolina's season came to an early end Wednesday as hurdler Hector Cotto, thrower Eric Frasure and the Pirates' 4x100 relay team all failed to advance during first day action at the 2006 NCAA Men's Outdoor Track & Field Championships at the Alex G. Spanos Sports Complex.
Cotto, who earned qualification to the championships by recording a time of 13.66 during a third-place finish at the NCAA East Regionals in Greensboro two weeks ago, stood ninth in one of three preliminary heats and 26th overall with a time of 14.57. A total of 18 athletes advanced to the semis after besting the cut-off mark of 14.19.
Frasure missed the cut by one spot, finishing 13th of 26 competitors in the hammer throw after an effort of 62.46 meters. The junior Charlotte native posted a 62.40 mark during his second attempt and fouled on this third try, coming just 0.81 meters short of the 12th and last qualifying spot held by Montana State's Josh Henigman (63.27).
ECU's 4x100 relay squad also turned in a 13th-place standing during preliminary competition, five slots behind final qualifier and eighth-place overall finisher Houston.
The unit, which consisted of senior DeAndre Hyman and freshmen Jerek Hewett, David Rucker and Kevin Thompson, recorded a time of 39.86 to earn a third-place heat finish - ahead of Florida (40.00), Alabama (41.03) and Florida State (DQ), but behind UTEP (39.21) and Oregon (39.45).
The mark also served as the Pirates' second-fastest performance of the season, trailing only a 39.83 clip which resulted in a third-place result at the NCAA East Regional May 27.
