Florida Gators
NCAA Preliminary Rounds
Seven Track and Field Gators Advance to NCAA Championships
Friday, May 28, 2010 | Track and Field
The Florida track and field team on Thursday advanced seven athletes to the upcoming NCAA Championships and qualified nine runners to the quarterfinal rounds of their respective events on the opening day of the NCAA Preliminary Rounds at Irwin Belk Track on the campus of North Carolina A&T University.
Most impressively, each of Florida's three women's shot putters advanced to the NCAA Championships, as Mariam Kevkhishvili (Tbilisi, Georgia), Keely Medeiros (Luziana, Brazil) and Fidela James (Jacksonville, Fla.) all finished among the top 12 at the NCAA East Preliminary site. Senior thrower Evelien Dekkers (Etten Leur, Netherlands) placed first in the women's javelin, while sophomore jumper Christian Taylor (Fayetteville, Ga.) was first in the men's long jump. Senior jumper Shara Proctor (The Valley, Anguilla) placed third in the women's long jump to punch her ticket to the NCAA Championships. Freshman Josh Izewski (Doylestown, Pa.), who entered the East preliminaries as the 48th and final qualifier, placed 12th in the men's 10,000m run to claim an appearance in the upcoming NCAA Championships.
The second day of the NCAA Preliminary Rounds begins at 10 a.m. ET Friday from Irwin Belk Track. Complete results and a recap will be available at www.GatorZone.com with live results at www.flashresults.com. The NCAA Outdoor Championships take place June 9-13 at historic Hayward Field in Eugene, Ore.
“This is the first round of the NCAA meet and, as we have talked about all along, we have got to keep advancing and keep progressing,” Florida head coach Mike Holloway said. “I thought we did a great job of that today. We have got to come out tomorrow and continue doing the things that made us successful today. Our goal is to get as many scoring opportunities to Eugene as possible.”
Dekkers, who entered the meet ranked No. 7 in the women's javelin, placed first in the East qualifying on Thursday to become the first Gator to punch her ticket to the NCAA Championships in Eugene. She did so on her second throw with a toss of 50.48m/165-7.
Proctor placed third overall in the women's long jump with a leap of 6.40m/21-0 (+2.2) to advance to the NCAA Championships.
Each of Florida's three women's shot putters all punched their tickets to the NCAA Championships. Kevkhishvili placed first overall in the qualifying round with a toss of 17.64m/57-10.50. Medeiros was fifth with a throw of 16.38m/53-9, while James was 10th with a personal-record toss of 15.93m/52-3.25.
Taylor came out with a huge first attempt of 7.94m/26-0.75 to place first in the men's long jump. He passed on his final four attempts after setting the tone early in the competition.
Izewski placed 12th in the men's 10,000m run in a time of 30:12.18 to notch an appearance in the upcoming NCAA Championships in his first collegiate season.
Seniors Charlotte Browning (Pullborough, England) and Justin Taylor (St. Augustine, Fla.) advanced to the quarterfinals of the men's and women's 1,500m runs, respectively. Browning was 13th overall in the women's first round in 4:22.54, while Taylor was 10th overall in the men's first round in 3:48.41. The quarterfinals of the women's event take place at 6:45 p.m. ET Saturday, while the quarterfinals of the men's event are slated for 6:30 p.m. ET Saturday.
Florida advanced each of its three runners in the men's 100-meter dash. Sophomore sprinter Jeff Demps (Winter Garden, Fla.) placed first overall in a time of 10.11 (+1.2). Junior Terrell Wilks (New Haven, Conn.) and senior Jeremy Hall (Jacksonville, Fla.) both also advanced to the event quarterfinals with time of 10.27 (+1.2) and 10.51 (-0.1), respectively. Wilks' time was a season best. The quarterfinals of the men's 100m dash are at 6 p.m. ET Friday.
Sophomore sprinter Madison McNary (Clearwater, Fla.) advanced to the quarterfinals of the women's 100-meter dash by placing 11th overall in the first round in a personal-best time of 11.40 (+2.4), which ranks sixth all-time in school history. The women's 100m quarterfinals are set for 6:15 p.m. ET Friday.
Senior sprinter Calvin Smith (Lutz, Fla.) and freshman Tony McQuay (Riviera Beach, Fla.) each advanced to the quarterfinals of the men's 400-meter dash, placing sixth and 10th, respectively. Smith ran a time of 45.79, while McQuay clocked a 46.00. The men's 400m dash finals are scheduled for 5:30 p.m. ET Friday.
Senior middle distance runner Carlos Phillips (Winter Garden, Fla.) advanced to the quarterfinals of the men's 800m run, finishing 18th overall in the first round in a season-best time of 1:49.66.
For all of the latest information on Florida track and field, please log on to www.GatorZone.com/trackfield or, for up-to-the-minute updates, follow the team's Twitter account @GZTrackField or www.twitter.com/GZTrackField.
Thursday, May 27, 2010
Women's Javelin – 10 a.m. ET
1. Evelien Dekkers – 50.48m/165-7 Q
Men's Hammer Throw – 11 a.m. ET
9. Jeremy Postin – 58.59m/192-2
Women's Long Jump – 1 p.m. ET
3. Shara Proctor – 6.40m/21-0 (+2.2) Q
Women's Shot Put – 3 p.m. ET
1. Mariam Kevkhishvili – 17.64m/57-10.50 Q
5. Keely Medeiros – 16.38m/53-9 Q
10. Fidela James – 15.93m/52-3.25 Q
Women's 400m Hurdles First Round – 4 p.m. ET
26. Ugonna Ndu – 59.52
Men's 1,500m Run First Round – 4:30 p.m. ET
10. Justin Taylor – 3:48.41 q
Men's Long Jump – 5 p.m. ET
1. Christian Taylor – 7.94m/26-0.75 Q
Women's 1,500m Run First Round – 5 p.m. ET
13. Charlotte Browning – 4:22.54 Q
Men's 100m Dash First Round – 5:30 p.m. ET
1. Jeff Demps – 10.11 (+1.2) Q
7. Terrell Wilks – 10.27 (+1.2) Q
28. Jeremy Hall – 10.51 (-0.1) Q
Women's 100m Dash First Round – 6 p.m. ET
T11. Madison McNary – 11.40 (+2.4) q
Men's 400m Dash First Round – 6:30 p.m. ET
6. Calvin Smith – 45.79 Q
10. Tony McQuay – 46.00 Q
35. R.J. Anderson – 47.36
Women's 400m Dash First Round – 7 p.m. ET
30. Lanie Whittaker – 54.59
Men's 800m Run First Round – 7:30 p.m. ET
18. Carlos Phillips – 1:49.66 q
Men's 10,000m Run Semifinals – 8:30 p.m. ET
12. Josh Izewski – 30:12.18 Q
QUALIFIERS FOR NCAA QUARTERFINALS AT GREENSBORO, N.C. (9)
- Charlotte Browning – Women's 1,500m Run (13th)
- Jeff Demps – Men's 100m Dash (1st)
- Jeremy Hall – Men's 100m Dash (28th)
- Madison McNary – Women's 100m Dash (11th)
- Tony McQuay – Men's 400m Dash (10th)
- Carlos Phillips – Men's 800m Run (18th)
- Calvin Smith – Men's 400m Dash (6th)
- Justin Taylor – Men's 1,500m Run (10th)
- Terrell Wilks – Men's 100m Dash (7th)
QUALIFIERS FOR NCAA CHAMPIONSHIPS AT EUGENE, ORE. (7)
- Evelien Dekkers – Women's Javelin (1st)
- Josh Izewski – Men's 10,000m (12th)
- Fidela James – Women's Shot Put (10th)
- Mariam Kevkhishvili – Women's Shot Put (1st)
- Keely Medeiros – Women's Shot Put (5th)
- Shara Proctor – Women's Long Jump (3rd)
- Christian Taylor – Men's Long Jump (1st)
END OF REPORT
