Track And Field Begins NCAA East Preliminary Action Thursday
May 25, 2016 | Track & Field
Live Results | Heat Sheets: Thursday / Friday / Saturday
"New Heights" (Rich Klindworth, ECU News Services)
GREENVILLE, N.C. - After months of competition and working to improve times and marks, 17 members of the East Carolina track and field program will begin the road to the NCAA Outdoor Championships with participation in the NCAA East Preliminary Thursday through Saturday at Hodges Stadium on the campus of the University of North Florida in Jacksonville.
Fans and other interested parties will be able to follow the meet via a live results page available through the NCAA website and linked above.
"Both teams are excited and prepared to compete this weekend," Director of Track and Field and Cross Country Curt Kraft said. "After a weekend off from competing at our league championships, we have had the chance to get some good training in and get rested. The goal for this weekend is to advance people onto the national meet. To reach this point in the season is very difficult. It is hard to qualify for this event because of how competitive this region is. Everyone is going to have to be at the top of their games both physically and mentally."
Junior Lauren Lubarski will get things started for the Pirates Thursday at noon as she competes in the javelin. Her season-best throw of 45.63 meters is currently the 42nd best in the region.
The ECU contingent is headlined by senior jumper Avion Jones who currently leads the nation in the high jump with a mark of 2.31 meters. He achieved that total at the recently completed American Athletic Conference Championships where he won his fourth-straight league title and was named the Field Performer of the Meet. Jones' mark is also the second highest in the world in 2016.
On the women's side, senior Raqurra Ishmar qualified in the shot put, discus and hammer. She won the AAC discus title with a throw of 53.90 meters and is ranked 16th in the region in the event. Sophomore Galissia Cause will also compete in multiple disciplines as she earned a spot in the shot put and discus fields.
On the track, senior Madison Rayfield will run in the 100-meter hurdles as well as the 4x100 relay while freshman Courtney Warner will compete in the 100-meter dash and 4x100 relay.
The top 12 athletes and relay teams in each event will advance to the NCAA Division I Outdoor Championships, scheduled for June 8-11 at Hayward Field in Eugene, Ore.
2016 NCAA East Preliminary Qualifiers - Men (7)
Tamarack Bolden - 4x100 relay
Allen Bordley - triple jump
Hakeem Horton - 4x100 relay
Avion Jones - high jump
Jordan Martin - 4x100 relay
Vincent Ragland - 110-meter hurdles, 4x100 relay
D'Ante Yarborough - 110-meter hurdles
2016 NCAA East Preliminary Qualifiers - Women (10)
Mohogany Baker - discus
Galissia Cause - shot put, discus
Janieyah Collins - 400-meter hurdles
Cheyenne Hutchinson - 100-meter hurdles
Raqurra Ishmar - shot put, discus, hammer
Lauren Lubarski - javelin
Madison Rayfield - 100-meter hurdles, 4x100 relay
Amanda Salami - 4x100 relay
Cedrina Singletary - 4x100 relay
Courtney Warner - 100m, 4x100 relay
Players Mentioned
