May 29, 2016
NCAA East Prelims Final Results
Jacksonville, Fla. - The Auburn track and field team had a strong day during the final day of competition at the NCAA East Preliminaries as two relays and six individuals punched tickets for the NCAA Outdoor Championships in Eugene, Ore., in two weeks. A total of 13 individuals will be competing in a combined 10 events at the championships.
"This team really bonded and competed well this weekend. I couldn't be happier about the way we performed as a team," Auburn head coach Ralph Spry said. "If we can continue to click on all cylinders, we can come into nationals in two weeks with a lot of momentum. I'm pleased with how we lined up this weekend across the board. Everybody got after it and represented Auburn like I knew we could."
The day got off to a strong start for Auburn as senior All-Americans Valentina Muzaric and Rachel Dincoff advanced in the women's shot put. Muzaric finished fifth with a throw of 16.92m/55-6.25, while Dincoff was ninth (16.29m/53-5.5). It marks Muzaric's third trip to NCAA Outdoors in the shot put and first time since 2014.
Dincoff, who punched a ticket to nationals two days earlier in the discus, is the first Auburn woman since Elva Goulbourne in 2002-03 to qualify for nationals in the same two individual events in consecutive years. She will be traveling to nationals for the third straight year in the shot put and back-to-back years in the discus.
Senior Shawn Johnson and junior Marshay Ryan both advanced to nationals in the triple jump with strong performances. Johnson posted a lifetime-best jump of 16.36m/53-8.25 on his second attempt before passing on his final jump.
Ryan was 14th after two attempts and was two spots shy of qualifying for nationals before she improved by over 33 inches with a wind-aided leap of 13.68m/44-10.75 to finish in second place. Her leap was the second best in the country this season.
Junior sprinter Kahlil Henderson advanced to his third consecutive NCAA Championships in the 200m after recording a wind-aided 20.20 to win his heat and earn an automatic berth.
Competing in his first NCAA Preliminary meet, junior Welington Zaza ran a PR wind-aided 13.59 in the men's 110m hurdles to earn his first trip to nationals.
The Auburn men and women's 4x100m relay teams each advanced to nationals with times of 39.88 and 44.62, respectively.
The 2016 NCAA Outdoor Championships will be held at historic Hayward Field in Eugene, Ore., June 8-11.