Pirates Begin NCAA East Preliminary Wednesday

GREENVILLE, N.C. – The East Carolina track and field program begins its road to Eugene and the NCAA Outdoor Championships this week when the Pirates send six student-athletes to the NCAA East Preliminary in Jacksonville, Fla. The competition is slated for May 26-29 at the University of North Florida's Hodges Stadium.

The top 12 finishers in each event will book a spot at the national meet.

Ryan Davis enters the competition ranked fourth in the region in the hammer (70.77m) and 18th in the discus (56.95m). He claimed the league title in both events last week at the AAC Outdoor Championships and is the school record holder in each discipline. Davis makes his second career appearance at the NCAA East Preliminary after qualifying in the hammer in 2018.

Sommer Knight, who is making her third appearance at the regional competition, also won the AAC title in the pole vault with a school-record mark of 4.28 meters. As a freshman in 2018, she finished 13th, missing advancement to the national meet by one position.

Brooke Stith made the cut in two events – the triple jump and 100-meter hurdles. She is now a three-time participant in the meet after earning a spot in the triple jump in 2018 and 2019. Stith claimed fourth in the triple jump at the league championships last week.

Melicia Mouzzon (100-meter dash), Shellbi Chapman (100-meter hurdles) and Niejel Wilkins (triple jump) will all take part in regional competition for the first time.

2021 ECU Men's East Preliminary Qualifiers (Regional Ranking)
Ryan Davis – Hammer (4) and Discus (18)
Niejel Wilkins – Triple Jump (24)

2021 ECU Women's East Preliminary Qualifiers (Regional Ranking)
Sommer Knight – Pole Vault (8)
Melicia Mouzzon – 100m Dash (28)
Brooke Stith – Triple Jump (29) and 100m Hurdles (47)
Shellbi Chapman – 400m Hurdles (30)

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Players Mentioned

Shellbi Chapman

Ryan Davis

Sommer Knight

Melicia Mouzzon

Brooke Stith

Niejel Wilkins

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