KEVIN JENISON
GoSycamores.com
GREENSBORO, N.C. ? Indiana State senior Lauren Martin will join three other Sycamores in competition at the NCAA Outdoor Track & Field Championships after finishing 10th in the women's triple jump with a leap of 42'-4” (12.90 meters) on the final day of the East Preliminary Round Saturday.
Senior Kylie Hutson in the women's pole vault, Erica Moore in the 400 meters, and junior Major Clay in the high jump advanced to the finals on Friday.
“Lauren (Martin) did a very good job qualifying in the triple jump tonight,” John Gartland, Indiana State women's coach said. “As we know, there were 12 real winners here since the top 12 in each event advance to the finals. Kelsey (Hanley) improved greatly from the hammer yesterday and was in the hunt early in the discus today but finished 22nd which was still a big improvement from what she was ranked.”
Gartland said that the three women will represent Indiana State well at the NCAA Finals.
“These three will compete well for an All-American spot in Eugene (Ore.),” Gartland said. “They have all been there before and all three are already All-Americans.
Clay is also no stranger to the national stage as he competed in the 2009 Outdoor Championship but got caught with the wrong spikes after a long rain delay and did not make the opening height.
The Indiana State day began early on as Michael Disher competed in the 3,000 meter steeplechase which was delayed from Friday night by rain. The Sycamore junior finished the race in 31st with a time of 9:09.52.
Sycamore junior Brandon Pounds was also in competition again today, this tie in the men's discus where he finished 36th with a throw of 156'-8” (47.77 meters).
The women's 4x400 meter relay team was also in competition as the East Preliminary Round closed down. Freshman Leeann Michl, Martin, freshman Stacia Weatherford, and Moore ran in a very fast and very competitive opening heat of the event and finished in 3:41.18, the second fastest time of the season for the Sycamore team, but failed to advance to the NCAA finals.
The 2010 NCAA Outdoor Track & Field Finals will start on June 9 and continue through June 12 in Eugene, Ore. The National semi-final of the 400 meter hurdles is tentatively scheduled for 9:00 p.m. (ET) on Wednesday, June 9. The women's triple jump is scheduled for 6 p.m. (ET) on Thursday, June 10, while the men's high jump is set to start at 5:30 p.m. (ET) on Friday, June 11, and the women's pole vault at 6:00 p.m. (ET) on Friday, June 11. Also on Friday will be the finals of the 400 meter hurdles starting at 7:15 p.m. (ET).
SIDENOTE: Indiana State's Erica Moore was in some elite company in the East Quarterfinals of the 400 meter hurdles on Friday. Moore finished fifth overall with a time of 56.58. Miami's (Fla.) Ti'erra Brown clocked 54.74, a new Miami school record and a time that places her third in the World for 2010. Only Americans Lashinda Demus (53.34) and Virginia Tech senior Queen Quedith Harrision (54.66) has went faster this year. Harrison was second overall on Friday with a time of 55.07. Fawn Dorr of Penn State was third overall in 55.57 and Miami's Tameka Jameson was fourth in 55.73.
