May 27, 2011
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. - Five more members of the Auburn track and field teams qualified for the NCAA Outdoor Championships and three advanced within one round of the NCAA meet during the second of three days of competition Friday at the 2011 NCAA East Region Preliminary Round.
The Tigers now have nine qualifiers for the NCAA Outdoor Championships which will take place June 8-11 in Des Moines, Iowa. Four members of the two teams and three relay squads will have a chance to earn a spot on Saturday during the final day of the Preliminary Round competition.
"We had a really big day today and have about nine people that have locked themselves into the finals at the NCAAs," head coach Ralph Spry said. "Not only that but we had several people really step it up today and qualify for tomorrow's shot to get to the nationals. Probably the most exciting thing so far is this week is the freshman we have really stepped up. That is always a great sign when you have freshman that can come in and perform like ours did and make it to nationals. That just tells you what kind of level we are competing at."
Sophomore Maya Pressley was the first Tiger to earn a spot to compete in Des Moines on day two of the meet finishing tied for first in the women's high jump. Pressley, who won her second-consecutive high jump at the SEC Outdoor Championships, cleared 1.81 meters (5-11.25) to advance to her second NCAA Championship meet. Teammate junior Monica Carney failed to qualify as she tied for 27th and cleared a jump of 1.70 meters (5-7.0).
In the women's 400 meters, Auburn advanced two more runners to the championship meet as senior Joanna Atkins had the fourth-best time in the event, and junior CeCe Williams placed ninth overall. Atkins clocked a time of 52.89 seconds, while Williams posted a time of 54.08 seconds. Senior Cache Armbrister failed to make the field finishing in 21st place with a time of 54.89 seconds.
Freshman Keenan Brock finished second in his heat with a time of 10.33 seconds in the men's 100 meters. Brock place fifth overall and qualified for a spot in the NCAA Outdoor Championships.
In the women's 100 meters, senior Sheniqua Ferguson finished second in her heat and fifth overall with a time of 11.33 seconds. She bettered her time from Thursday's prelims of 11.43 seconds to earn her way to Des Moines.
Ferguson and junior Nivea Smith 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, who is the defending 2010 NCAA Outdoor Champion in the women's 200 meters, clocked a time of 23.17 seconds. Her time was first overall, while Smith's time of 23.19 seconds claimed the No. 2 spot. Sophomore Kai Selvon will join them in the quarterfinals after finishing second in her heat and eighth overall with a time of 23.56 seconds.
"I'm really excited because our women's team has still got a lot of momentum and everybody that we expected to get through today got through," Spry said. "That means if we can finish up tomorrow strong we are putting ourselves in a position to be a real strong factor two weeks from now."
Freshman Clay Porter missed a spot in the quarterfinals and finished 31st in the men's 200 meters for the Tigers clocking a time of 21.66 seconds.
Senior Stephanie Barnes ended the night for Auburn competing in the women's 3,000 meter Steeplechase placing 28th overall. Barnes clocked a time of 10:37.20 and missed a spot in the NCAA field.
Competition at the NCAA Preliminary Round concludes Saturday with Auburn athletes competing in the women's 200 meters, men's 5000 meters, men's and women's 4x100-meter relays, women's 4x400-meter relay and men's discus.