TicketsMay 21, 2010
CINCINNATI - After nearly two months of competition, 14 University of Cincinnati men's and women's track and field athletes posted Top 48 marks in the East Region in their respective events and 13 of those athletes will compete in East Region First and Second Rounds of the 2010 NCAA Outdoor Track & Field Championships, May 27-29 in Greensboro, N.C., hosted by North Carolina A&T University.
Eleven athletes from the men's team will be making their way to Greensboro to compete in nine events, while two of UC's female athletes will be competing in the pole vault.
"We are very happy to have 11 qualify for the NCAA First Round, which is a tribute to the high-quality team we had this year," said men's head coach Bill Schnier. "Naturally those closer to the front will have a better chance to advance to the NCAA Championships, but I guarantee that all are ready to do their best and 'Represent the 'C'".
On the men's side, three athletes will compete in multiple events with Antione Drakeford competing in the 400m and the 4x400, and Chris Littleton and Troy Cooper competing in both the shot put and discus.
Rick King will race in the 3,000m steeplechase, Eric Finan will compete in the 5,000m, Terrence Somerville will run in the 110m hurdles, and Ethan Freet, Maurice Norman, and Chase VanCura will join Drakeford in the 4x400 relay.
In the field events, Brandon Fitch is set to compete in the high jump, while Brian Zimmerman will contest in the javelin. Zimmerman enters the NCAA First and Second Rounds with the No. 4 seed, UC's highest seed. Drakeford is seeded 12th in the 400m.
On the women's side, Kathy Klump made her way into the 800m race but will be unable to race due to illness, while Michelle Eby and Kayla Dunn will both participate in the pole vault.
"We're very excited to send both Michelle and Kayla to the First and Second Rounds," said head women's coach Susan Seaton. "This will be Michelle's second appearance and Kayla's first at this meet and they both have worked hard all year to get to this point. We are excited to watch them chase after another PR and attempt to reach the NCAA Championships."
The top 12 finishers in each event at the East and West Preliminary Rounds then move on to the NCAA Championships, which are hosted by the University of Oregon from June 9-12. The field for the Preliminary Round was determined based on times/marks recorded throughout the season with the top 48 athletes in each event in both the East and West regions qualifying for the opening round of the NCAA Championships.