May 26, 2012
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. - Five members of the Auburn track and field program earned qualification in a second individual event, while the men's and women's 4x100m relay teams also earned passage to Drake University for the NCAA Championships in two weeks with performances on the final day of competition at the NCAA East Prelim at Hodges Stadium.
"We really had a banner day," Auburn head coach Ralph Spry said. "All the key people that we needed to get through, got through. Stephen did well in the shot put. We have three in the 100 [meters] and three in the deuce (200 meters). The 4x1 is qualified. That's a lot of firepower and everyone is healthy, so that is a good thing. On the women's side, we got through who we needed to get through. Kai is in both the 100 and 200. The women's 4x1 really is also through. Of all the kids we have qualified, all are high up on national lists. That makes me feel good about our chances. If we compete like we did here this weekend, it could be a very interesting NCAA championships for Auburn - especially on the men's side."
In the men's sprints, Harry Adams (100m/200m), Keenan Brock (100m/200m) and Marcus Rowland (100m/200m) will each have a chance to compete for the national championship in a pair of events. The trio will also go for the title in the 4x100 meter relay. Additionally, sophomore thrower Stephen Saenz will compete in two events as he will throw in both the discus and shot put.
On the women's side, Kai Selvon punched her second ticket in two days as she will compete in both the 100 and 200 meters. Selvon was also part of the women's 4x100 meter relay team that earned its spot in the semifinals.
"It's tough to perform to in multiple events at a high level over a short period of time," Spry said. "That's why staying healthy and taking care of your body is key. The fact that we have so many in multiple events is a testament to what we try to do as a program, kids taking care of their bodies and doing things the right way. It's definitely a challenge, because now everything is narrowed down to the top 12 from the east and top 12 from the west. It will certainly be a fight in two weeks. You are only as good as your last race. We had a good weekend here, but if we don't line up in two weeks and do it again, then it won't matter."
Auburn finished with a three-day total of 14 qualified entries from nine individuals.
Running with its 4x100m relay 'A' team of Rowland, Adams, Michael DeHaven and Brock for the first time since the preliminary round of the Penn Relays nearly one month ago, Auburn won the third heat in 39.23 seconds and ensured its place at Drake. The mark was the second-fastest of the season for Auburn. The Tigers still lead the nation with their time of 38.30 seconds from the Texas Relays in March.
Adams (20.34), Rowland (20.63) and Brock (20.65) all advanced to Des Moines in the 200 meters, but overshadowing the success was the potential injury to DeHaven. Running in the final heat of the men's 200m quarterfinals, the senior went down with around 100 meters to go. He was helped off the track after a few minutes by the Auburn athletic training staff.
Also double-qualifying was women's sprinter Selvon. She placed second in her 200 meter heat with a new personal-best time of 23.07 seconds. The mark was the sixth-fastest of the day.
Saenz set a new PR in the shot put with a mark of 65-4 (19.91m) while tying with Joe Kovacs from Penn State for the top throw at the meet. He had previously qualified in the discus on Thursday. The mark by Saenz is also a new facility record at Hodges Stadium.
Teammate Marcus Popenfoose narrowly missed a berth into the NCAA Championships. The Illinois native finished in 13th place, the top 12 advance, and was just two inches shy of 12th despite a new PR with a long throw of 59-8.5 (18.20m).
The women's 4x100m relay team also ensured its spot at the NCAA Championships with a second place finish in 44.18 in the third heat. For the first time this year, Auburn used the lineup of V'alonee Robinson, CeCe Williams, Selvon and Alycia Prior to advance. The lineup change was necessitated by the injury to Nivea Smith in the 200m at the SEC Championships. The mark of 44.18 seconds was the fifth-fastest recorded on the day.
Sophomore DJ Smith saw his season end on Saturday night in the men's high jump. After clearing the bar at 6-11.5 (2.12m), the Atlanta, Ga. native missed on three-consecutive tries at 7-1 (2.16m) and finished in 25th place overall.
In the women's 100m Hurdles, senior Krystal Bodie (13.45) finished just outside the cut-off line for a trip to Iowa with a fifth-place finish in the third heat. She finished in 15th overall, three spots outside the required finish.
The Tigers closed out Saturday night's action in the men's 4x400m relay. Using a pair of subs, Auburn placed seventh in the third heat and crossed the finish line in 3:14.48. Spencer Ferguson ran the anchor leg in 46.96, faster than any previous 400m time in his career.
Action in Iowa is June 6-9. For the latest on Auburn track and field, follow @AUTrack on Twitter.