Sycamores have good day to open
East Preliminary Round Of NCAA Championship
KEVIN JENISON
GoSycamores.com
GREENSBORO, N.C. ? Indiana State senior Erica Moore ran the fourth fastest time in the first round of the women's 400 meters while freshman Felisha Johnson just missed a trip to the NCAA Outdoor Track & Field Championships in the shot put during the first day of the East Preliminary Round Thursday.
Two other Sycamores were in competition Thursday as sophomore Drew LaMaster had several good attempts at a personal best in the men's pole vault and sophomore Tara Perigo had a good effort in the women's javelin.
“We got off to a good start on the men's side today,” John McNichols, Indiana State men's track & field coach said. “LaMaster cleared the first two bars and had several good attempts at the third bar which would have been a personal best for him. He is young and this was a great experience for him. His future looks very bright.”
John Gartland, Indiana State women's coach, was equally happy with the results from the first day.
“It was a pretty good first day,” Gartland said. “Perigo did not throw her best but if she would have matched her personal best distance that she had at the conference meet, she would have come really close to making the trip to Eugene, Ore.
“Moore was very strong today and won her heat very convincingly,” Gartland said. “She will get a pretty good lane assignment tomorrow as she chases a chance to finish in the top 12 and advance to the finals. Johnson made it to the finals in the shot put (top 16) but did not move up enough to advance. She did have a personal best throw though.”
Moore had the fourth fastest time in the preliminary round of the 400 meter hurdles as she was clocked at 57.18 which is just a second off her season best mark of 56.21. She will run again in the quarterfinals at 7:15 p.m. (ET) Friday with the top 12 advancing to the finals in Eugene, Ore.
Johnson finished 15th in the women's shot put with a personal best throw of 51'-1” (15.57 meters). That is the third best distance in school history as she passed Julie Koebcke who had a personal best of 50'-5.5” (15.38 meters) in 1995. Johnson missed making the top 12 by just four and a half inches.
“She really did well against some high level competition,” Gartland said. “She seemed to establish a new personal best with each meet this season and I am very excited about next year.”
LaMaster finished 32nd in the men's pole vault by clearing 16'-2.75” (4.95 meters) on Thursday. He had several good attempts at 16'-8.75” (5.10 meters) but could not clear the bar.
Friday's action for Indiana State begins at 11 a.m. (ET) with junior Kelsey Hanley competing in the women's hammer throw. Sophomore Brandon Pounds will compete in the men's shot put starting at 3 p.m. (ET) with senior Kylie Hutson and freshman Richelle Kimble going in the women's pole vault at 4 p.m. (ET).
Junior Michael Roberts runs in the men's 110 meter hurdle preliminaries at 4:30 p.m. (ET), junior Major Clay competes in the men's high jump starting at 5 p.m. (ET), and junior Michael Disher runs in the men's 3,000 meter steeplechase at 8:30 p.m. (ET). In addition, the quarterfinals of the women's 400 meter hurdles will be held at 7:15 p.m.
Pounds returns to action at 9:30 a.m. (ET) Saturday for the men's discus with Hanley back for the women's discus at 3:30 p.m. (ET). Senior Lauren Martin competes in the women's triple jump at 4 p.m. (ET) with the women's 4x400 meter relay team of freshman Leeann Michl, Martin, freshman Stacia Weatherford, and Moore, competing at 9:45 p.m. (ET). In addition, the quarterfinals of the men's 110 meter hurdles will be held at 7:05 p.m. (ET).
Live web stream and results of the East Preliminary Round can be found at the NCAA Outdoor Track & Field Championship website: http://www.ncaa.com/sports/c-otrack/champpage/c-otrack-div1-east-index.html
