May 28, 2010
GREENSBORO, N.C. - Four more members of the Auburn track and field teams qualified for the NCAA Outdoor Championships and three more advanced within one round of the NCAA meet during the second of three days of competition Friday at the 2010 NCAA East Region Preliminary Round.
The Tigers now have seven qualifiers for the NCAA Outdoor Championships which will take place June 9-12 in Eugene, Ore. Eight more members of the squads and three relays teams will have the chance to earn a spot on Saturday during the final day of the Preliminary Round competition.
"We had our ups and downs, but our top kids got through," said head coach Ralph Spry. "We had a couple others that were close, and we've had a few injuries but we have to fight through those things. Tomorrow could be a very big day because we have some sprinters and relays that we need to get through. Hopefully we'll have some solid runs because we need to finish this meet strong. We've still got a good chance to put ourselves in a position to do well at the NCAAs."
Junior Joanna Atkins had the top time in the field in the women's 400 meters, clocking a season-best time of 51.52 seconds, which easily led the way as the second-best time was 52.21. Atkins earned the chance to defend her 2009 national title in the 400 meters in Eugene.
The Tigers also had the top qualifier in the men's 100 meters, as sophomore Marcus Rowland won his heat with a time of 10.04 seconds. He just missed his season best of 10.03 that leads the nation this season.
Two other Tiger men were not as fortunate in the 100 meters, particularly junior Michael DeHaven, who missed a spot in the NCAA Championships by .003 seconds. DeHaven finished fourth in his heat in 10.34 seconds, and only the top three from each heat automatically advanced with the third qualifier in his heat also posting a time of 10.34 but edging DeHaven by .003. Redshirt freshman Harry Adams was 16th overall in 10.36 seconds.
DeHaven's tough luck continued in the 200 meters, as he was charged with a false start, disqualifying him from that event.
In the women's 100 meters, junior Sheniqua Ferguson overcame a slow start to finish second in her heat and sixth overall with a time of 11.35 seconds. She didn't match her time from Thursday's prelims of 11.24, but still punched her ticket to Eugene in that event.
Sophomore Nivea Smith tied for the 12th best time in the 100 meters with a mark of 11.52 seconds, but became a victim of the qualifying process, as the final automatic qualifier had a time of 11.54, pushing Smith one spot out of making the trip to Eugene in that event.
Ferguson and Smith also were part of an impressive performance by the Tigers in the first round of the women's 200 meters, as both won their heats to move on to Saturday's quarterfinals. Ferguson clocked a time of 23.12, which ranks third overall, while Smith's time of 23.19 was fourth. Freshman Kai Selvon will join them in the quarterfinals after finishing 19th overall with a season-best time of 23.86.
Senior Eric Werskey also secured his spot in Eugene by finishing 10th in the shot put. Werskey, a 2009 indoor All-American in that event, had a top throw of 17.96 meters (58-11.25) on his second attempt. He will also attempt to qualify in the discus on Saturday. Auburn also had one more competitor - senior Scott Novack in the steeplechase - scheduled to compete Friday night, but severe storms in the area pushed his race back until Saturday morning.
The Tigers had one other competitor on Friday, as senior Luke Gaines finished 48th in the javelin with a mark of 47.72 meters (156-6).
Competition at the NCAA Preliminary Round concludes Saturday with Auburn athletes competing in the women's 200 meters, men's 1500 meters, men's 5000 meters, men's steeplechase, men's and women's 4x100-meter relays, women's 4x400-meter relay and men's discus.