University of Tennessee Athletics
University of Tennessee
NCAA Regional Championships
Five Qualifiers for Vol Track on Day Two
May 29, 2015 | Track & Field
| Name | Event/Place/Mark |
|---|---|
| Tavis Bailey | Discus/4th/199-7 (60.83) |
| Jake Blankenship | Pole Vault/1st/17-2.75 (5.25) |
| Tyler Porter | Pole Vault/6th/17-2.75 (5.25) |
| Christian Coleman | 100m/6th/10.33 (+0.9) |
| Nathan Strother | 400m/7th/45.76 |
» Full Results
| Name | Event/Place/Mark |
|---|---|
| Felicia Brown | 200m (1st Rd)/4th/22.98 (+1.6)) |
» Full Results
Strother entered the weekend as the region's 23rd ranked competitor in the 400 and will leave with a 7th-place finish and a berth in the NCAA Championships. His career-best time of 45.76 ranks in a tie for fifth all-time at UT.
Coleman pulled double duty on Friday evening, qualifying for his first Outdoor NCAAs in the 100m with a time of 20.90 only an hour before his 20.90 in the first round of the 200-meter dash pushed him into Saturday's quarterfinal.
May 29, 2015
JACKSONVILLE -- Tennessee qualified five individuals to the next month's NCAA Outdoor Track & Field Championships in Eugene, Oregon, during a big Friday at the NCAA East Preliminary Round at Hodges Stadium.
"Really good day," said director of track and field/cross country Beth Alford-Sullivan. "We're up to seven tickets punched with a potential of five more tomorrow. Today's competitions were just great. It was one after the other and the Orange was everywhere and competing extremely well. I'm very proud of the end results."
Seven individuals entered Friday's competition with the chance to qualify for the Championships and five punched their tickets, including a pair of first-time qualifiers in freshmen Christian Coleman and Nathan Strother. Coleman posted a 10.33 (+0.9) in the men's 100-meter dash quarterfinals to finish second in his heat and sixth overall among the 12-man qualifying group. Meanwhile, Strother recorded his second PR in as many days in the 400-meters to secure his first-career berth to the NCAA Championships. The freshman notched a 45.76 -- the fastest time by any freshman in the 400 this season -- to move into a tie for fifth place on UT's all-time performance list.
In the field events, Tennessee will send a pair to Oregon in the men's pole vault as Jake Blankenship and Tyler Porter emerged from the qualifying rounds. Blankenship went one-and-done, clearing just one bare to ensure qualification, while Porter jumped three in finding his way back to the NCAA pole vault finals. Both men finished with a final qualifying mark of 17 feet, 2.75 inches (5.25).
Tavis Bailey rounded out UT's qualifiers on the day, placing fourth in the men's discus throw at 199 feet, seven inches (60.83). Bailey will make his way to Eugene to compete in the discus for the third consecutive season.
In all, Tennessee has now qualified seven individual performers to the NCAA Championships as Friday's quintet join Chelsea Blaase (10,000 meters) and Maria Jimenez (javelin), who had qualified on Thursday.
The Vols capped the day with a couple of solid races in the first rounds of the 200-meter dash. On the women's side, Felicia Brown advanced to Saturday's quarterfinal after winning her heat easily in a time of 22.98 (+1.6). That time was the fourth-fastest of the opening round. For the men, Coleman staved off any fatigue he may have felt following his 100-meter qualification and produced a 20.90 (+0.4), earning a spot in Saturday's quarterfinal. Coleman was third in his heat and 14th overall.
Brown and Coleman will look to clinch their Nationals berth in the 200 on Saturday evening at 7:35 and 7:50 p.m. ET, respectively.
For all the success Tennessee enjoyed in competition on Friday, there was a moment of heartbreak as freshman Matthew Zajac was narrowly edged from NCAA Championships qualification in the men's discus. Throwing in the second flight, Zajac found himself in fourth place at the conclusion of his round behind a heave of 185 feet, nine inches (56.62). That mark nearly survived the third and final flight of competitors, but was eventually overtaken on the final round of throws. Zajac finished in 14th place overall.
"A tremendous showing for a young freshman, but a heartbreak at the same time," Sullivan said of Zajac's performance. "But I think he'll regroup and get better from it and have a great opportunity to be out in Eugene for the Junior Championships as well."
Tennessee has just four events on tap on Saturday with a total of five qualifying spots still up for grabs. Bailey will start things off in the men's shot put competition, alongside fellow senior Matthew Hoty, beginning at 5 p.m. From there, Brown and Coleman take part in the 200 and Austin Whitelaw concludes the night as he looks to punch his ticket in the men's 5000 meters.
Stay up-to-date with all things Tennessee Track & Field by following @Vol_Track on Twitter or by liking the team's page on Facebook at facebook.com/tenntrack.
MEN'S RESULTS AT NCAA EAST PRELIM
Thursday
100m (1st Rd): 8. Christian Coleman, 10.35 (+1.8) - adv
400m (1st Rd): 11. Nathan Strother, 46.24! - adv
Friday
Javelin: 44. Kyle Quinn, 181-3 (55.26)
Discus: 4. Tavis Bailey, 199-7 (60.83); 14. Matthew Zajac, 185-9 (56.62)
Pole Vault: 1. Jake Blankenship, 17-2.75 (5.25); 6. Tyler Porter, 17-2.75 (5.25)
400m (QF): 7. Nathan Strother, 45.76!
100m (QF): 6. Christian Coleman, 10.33 (+0.9)
200m (1st Rd): 14. Christian Coleman, 20.90 (+0.4) - adv
WOMEN'S RESULTS AT NCAA EAST PRELIM
Thursday
Javelin: 8. Maria Jimenez, 160-7 (48.95)!
Pole Vault: 39. Erin Champion, 12-10.75 (3.93)
100m (1st Rd): 30. Felicia Brown, 11.74 (-0.6) - dna
400m (1st Rd): 45. Felecia Majors, 54.67 - dna
10,000: 2. Chelsea Blaase, 33:47.20
Friday
200m (1st Rd): 4. Felicia Brown, 22.98 (+1.6) - adv
