May 27, 2010
GREENSBORO, N.C. - Three members of the Auburn men's and women's track and field teams qualified for the NCAA Outdoor Championships and eight more advanced within one round of the NCAA field during the opening evening of competition Thursday at the 2010 NCAA East Region Preliminary Round.
The Tigers advanced two men to Eugene, Ore., for the NCAA Championships in the 10,000 meters. Sophomore Ben Cheruiyot, fresh off victories in both the 5,000 and the 10,000 meters at the SEC Outdoor Championships, finished second out of a field of 48 in the 10k late Thursday night, finishing with a time of 29:44.76. Senior Elkanah Kibet finished eighth to also advance, clocking a time of 29:52.43. Jean-Pierre Weerts was 27th in 31:47.71.
Freshman Maya Pressley was the first Tiger to punch her ticket to Eugene, finishing tied for ninth in the women's high jump. Pressley, who won the high jump at the SEC Outdoor Championships, cleared 1.78 meters (5-10) to advance to her first NCAA Championship meet.
"I'm really pleased with tonight's effort," said head coach Ralph Spry. "This is a really tough meet - there are 48 of the best kids on this side of the country in each event and only the best 12 move on. For the most part we got our key people through. I expected a few setbacks but we had a lot of good things happen, and we just have to come back tomorrow and execute like we did today and give ourselves opportunities to compete two weeks from now."
The Tigers were unable to advance anyone in the women's 10,000 meters, as sophomore Holly Knight finished 21st with a time of 36:04.78, and senior Laurel Pritchard was 29th in 36:32.00.
In the rest of Thursday's running events, the field of 48 was whittled to 24, with one more round left in each event to determine which 12 athletes advance to the NCAA Outdoor Championships.
Auburn advanced three men into the quarterfinals of the 100 meters. Sophomore Marcus Rowland, who leads the nation with a season-best time of 10.03, cruised to a time of 10.22 while winning his heat. His time ranked third overall. Junior Michael DeHaven was second in his heat and 13th overall in 10.36 seconds, while redshirt freshman Harry Adams was third in his heat and tied for 15th overall with a time of 10.39.
Two Tigers made the quarterfinals of the women's 100 meters. Junior Sheniqua Ferguson, the SEC Champion in both the 100 and 200 meters, won her heat and was second overall in 11.24 seconds, while sophomore Nivea Smith was third in her heat and 20th overall with a time of 11.54.
In the first round of the men's 1,500 meters, senior Felix Kiboiywo, the national leader in the event, won his heat and posted the top overall time of 3:47.83.
Junior Joanna Atkins, who leads the East Region in the 400 meters, posted the top time in that event with a season-best mark of 51.87 seconds, finishing more than a half second better than the next best time.
Senior Amelia Anderson moved on in the women's 400-meter hurdles, finishing second in her heat and 12th overall with a time of 58.09 seconds. Senior Danielle Gilchrist missed a spot in the quarterfinals by two-tenths of a second, finishing 27th overall with a time of 59.54. Junior Latoya Parkinson was 36th in 1:00.68.
Athletes that advanced to the quarterfinal round of the 100, 400 and 400-meter hurdles will run for a spot at the NCAA Championships on Friday. Kiboiywo will compete in the quarterfinals of the 1500 meters on Saturday.
Competition at the NCAA Preliminary Round continues Friday with Auburn athletes competing in the men's and women's 200 meters, women's 400 meters, women's 400-meter hurdles, men's and women's steeplechase, men's javelin and men's shot put.