KEVIN JENISON

GoSycamores.com

BLOOMINGTON, IND. ? Indiana State senior Kelsey Hanley became the third member of the Sycamore track & field team to advance to the 2011 NCAA Division I Outdoor Track & Field Championship finals at Drake University (June 8-10) after placing 10th in the women's discus competition today during the final day of the East Preliminary Round at the Robert C. Haugh Track & Field Complex on the campus of Indiana University.

Hanley, who just missed qualifying in the hammer throw on Thursday, joins sophomore Felisha Johnson and junior Major Clay in representing the Sycamores at the National Finals. It will be the first trip to the Outdoor finals for both Hanley and Johnson while Clay will be competing in his third straight Outdoor Finals.

“It's pretty cool that we have two ladies in three different events competing at the National Finals,” Angie Martin, Indiana State women's track & field coach said. “That is a pretty good accomplishment. I am glad for Kelsey who qualified for her first outdoor championship as a senior. She was disappointed after the hammer so this is a great way for her to end her career at Indiana State.”

The senior's best throw came on her second attempt which went 168'-0” (51.20 meters). Tennessee junior Annie Alexander had the best throw of the competition at 192'-2” (58.58 meters). Akron senior Valerie Wert was the final qualifier for the Nationals with a throw of 166'-9” (50.84 meters). Hanley will enter the National Finals with the 21st best throw of the 24 who advance out of the preliminary round (12 from the East and 12 from the West).

Hanley set the Indiana State record in the women's hammer throw at 205'-4” (62.58 meters) during the 2011 State Farm Missouri Valley Conference Outdoor Track & Field Championships. She also has ISU's second best throw in the discus at 170'-8” (52.64 meters) which she threw at the EIU Big Blue Classic earlier this year.

The Sycamore competed in the hammer and discus at the 2010 East Preliminary Round where she finished 22nd in both events. She also competed in the Mideast Regional in 2009, the last year that the NCAA conducted the regional system, placing 15th in the hammer and 27th in the discus.

Johnson will compete in two events during the NCAA Finals after she placed ninth in the women's shot put Friday and fourth in the hammer throw on Thursday.

The sophomore is the first Sycamore women thrower to compete in two events at the NCAA Championship finals since Jenny Folz competed in the hammer throw and shot put at the 1999 NCAA Outdoor Championships. Folz went on to finish 11th in the hammer to earn All-American recognition.

Johnson established a new personal best in the shot put with a throw of 54'-3.75” (16.55 meters) which is also the second best throw in school history. The distance places her 11th overall among the 24 competitors who advance to the National Finals (12 from the East and 12 from the West).

The Sycamore had ISU's third best throw all-time at 51'-7.75” (15.74 meters) which she tossed during the 2011 Billy Hayes Invitational on May 6 but has now moved past Folz who had a throw of 51'-9.25” (15.78 meters) in 1999. Johnson is also closing in on school record holder and All-American Christy Barrett who had a throw of 56'-10.75” (17.34 meters) in 1991.

Johnson qualified for the women's hammer throw on Thursday with the fourth best distance of the competition at 199'-8” (60.85 meters). She will enter the National Finals with the 10th best throw overall among the 24 who advance out of the preliminary rounds.

Sycamore junior Major Clay cleared 7'-0.25” (2.14 meters) to advance in the men's high jump. Clay was clean throughout the day as he cleared the first three bars on his first attempt to earn a spot in the NCAA Championship finals. Seven individuals cleared 7'-1.5” (2.17 meters) to advance while Clay was among seven athletes who cleared 7'-0.25” but avoided the jump off because he did not have any misses.

The top six competitors from the West also cleared 7'-0.25” (2.14 meters) to advance with the final six advancing clearing 6'-11” (2.11 meters).

Clay will be competing in the NCAA Finals for the third straight year. He earned All-American recognition in the high jump last year as he placed 11th at the NCAA Outdoor Championships after a fourth place finish in the East Preliminary.

Also today, ISU freshman Greggmar Swift tied for 13th in the quarterfinals of the men's 110 meter high hurdles as he just missed advancing to the NCAA Finals by three-hundredths of a second. Swift was in the fast heat of the quarterfinals and ran a personal best 13.93 which is also the eighth best in school history.

“Swift got off to a slow start this outdoor season as he recovered from an injury during the indoor season but certainly has the ability to compete at the National Finals,” John McNichols, Indiana State men's track & field coach said. “We are really looking forward to him competing a full season next year.”

The top three in each of the three heats advanced to the NCAA Finals with the final three qualifying on time. Those three all came from Swift's heat with Maryland-Eastern Shore junior Ackeem Smith the last to qualify on time at 13.90.

Swift ran the 14th fastest time in the preliminary round Friday with a time of 14.20.