University of Tennessee Athletics
Coleman Leads Vol Qualifiers at NCAA Prelims
May 28, 2017 | Track & Field
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LEXINGTON, Kentucky -- Christian Coleman recorded the second fastest 200m ever by a collegian as five individuals and two relays teams qualified for the NCAA Championship on the final day of the NCAA East Prelims at the UK Outdoor Track and Field Complex.
Coleman posted a time of 19.85 while running into a -0.5 headwind. Coleman jumped out to the lead, making up the stagger halfway around the turn. Coleman kept that lead for the remainder of the race, winning his heat by nearly four tenths of a second. He was the top qualifier in the event and booked a place at the NCAA Championship. That time moved Coleman past Justin Gatlin on the school record book and the collegiate record book. It is also the top 200m time in the world this year. Gatlin's best collegiate mark was a time of 19.86, which he recorded at the 2002 SEC Championship. Coleman now sits atop the school record book in the 60m and 200m indoors as well as the 100m and 200m outdoors. Walter Dix holds the collegiate record with a time of 19.69, which he set in 2007.
With Coleman watching from the sidelines, the men's 4x400m relay team came through to book a spot at the NCAA Championship. Mustaqeem Williams, Ari Cogdell and Malik Elion ran a very competitive first three legs, but Tennessee was sitting in fifth place when they handed the baton to Nathan Strother. Strother ran a final leg of 44.31 to pass three teams and secure a second place finish in the heat with a time of 3:04.81, earning automatic bid to the NCAA Championship.
After Saturday's performances, Tennessee will send 10 individuals and two relay teams to the NCAA Championship. The Vols will be represented by Christian Coleman (100m, 200m), Shania Collins (200m), Nathan Strother (400m), Zach Long (5000m), Chelsea Blaase (10,000m), Seth Whitener (Hammer), Cameron Brown (Hammer), Stamatia Scarvelis (Hammer), Cassie Wertman (Shot Put), Matthew Zajac (Discus) as well as the men's 4x100m relay and 4x400m relay teams.
Lightning in the area and bursts of rain forced some of the field events to be delayed almost four hours. The track events had a one-hour delay with events starting at 7 p.m. Despite the conditions, the Vols were able to lay down some fantastic performances as five individuals and two relay teams booked their spot at the NCAA Championship.
Shania Collins was able to claim a spot in Eugene as she qualified with the 12th fastest time in the 200m. Collins recorded a time of 23.11 to finish fifth in her heat, but was able to qualify with the final time qualifier. Collins posted a personal best of 22.81 in yesterday's first round to advance to the finals.
Matthew Zajac became the third Vol to earn a berth at the NCAA Championship as he finished 11th in the discus competition. Zajac's first two throws were almost identical as he posted a mark of 56.51m (185-4) on his first attempt and 56.47 (185-3) on his second attempt. The first mark was good enough for Zajac to earn one of the 12 qualifying spots.
Cassie Wertman also clinched a place at the NCAA Championship as the senior finished in ninth place in the shot put with a throw of 16.50m (54-1.75). Wertman recorded a throw of 16.22m (53-2.75) on her first attempt and sat in the final qualifying spot, but she came through on her final attempt to move into ninth and secure her place in Eugene. She became the fifth Tennessee thrower to earn a spot at the NCAA Championship.
Zach Long claimed his spot at the NCAA Championship with a third place finish in his heat of the 5000m. Long recorded a time of 14:17.14 as he stuck with the top pack throughout the race, content to stay in the top eight. Over the final mile of the competition, Long went with the top six and sprinted past three competitors over the final lap to claim third and ensure his spot in Eugene.
The men's 4x100m squad posted the seventh-fastest time in school history to finish as the fourth-fastest qualifier. Darryl Harris, Williams, Elion and Coleman combined to post a time of 38.92 as they finished second in their heat and earned an automatic berth at the NCAA Championship.
Darryl Sullivan cleared 2.10m (6-10.75) on his third attempt. In slippery conditions, only seven competitors cleared the next bar at 2.15m (7-0.5), but Sullivan finished in a tie for 19th due to the number of attempts it took him to clear the bar at 2.10m.
The Tennessee women's 4x100m relay team looked set to head to Eugene as they rounded the track in a season-best time of 43.85. However, the foursome of Cidae'a Woods, Collins, Lenysse Dyer and Maia McCoy was disqualified for a handoff that occurred outside the exchange zone. The women's 4x400m squad of Dyer, Brooklynn Broadwater, Layla White and Collins finished in 13th place with a time of 3:37.20, just missing out on a spot in Eugene.
NCAA East Prelims Results
Thursday's Results
Women's Competitors
100m First Round: 13. Shania Collins 11.42 (+0.3)
400m First Round: 46. Layla White, 55.50
10,000m Semifianls: 4. Chelsea Blaase, 33:45.78
400m Hurdles First Round: 12. Brooklynn Broadwater, 59.12
Long Jump: 14. Cidae'a Woods, 6.23m (20-5.25)
Hammer Throw: 7. Stamatia Scarvelis, 60.48m (198-5); 18. Candice Butler, 56.94m (186-9)
Men's Competitors
100m First Round: 1. Christian Coleman, 9.96 (+1.7); 26. Mustaqeem Williams, 10.42 (-0.3)
400m First Round: 8. Nathan Strother, 46.67; 45. Ari Cogdell, 48.89
Hammer: 7. Seth Whitener, 68.59m (225-0); 12. Cameron Brown, 66.66m (218-8)
Friday's Results
Women's Competitors
100m Quarterfinals: 12. Shania Collins, 11.47 (-1.4)
200m First Round: 4. Shania Collins, 22.81 (+1.0); 23. Lenysse Dyer, 23.37 (+1.4)
400m Hurdles Quarterfinals: 14. Brooklynn Broadwater, 58.20
Discus: 23. Stamatia Scarvelis, 50.05m (164-2); 30. Tamia Crockett, 48.89m (160-4)
Men's Competitors
100m Quarterfinals: 1. Christian Coleman, 9.98 (-0.2)
200m First Round: 2. Christian Coleman, 20.07 (+0.8)
400m Quarterfinals: 5. Nathan Strother, 45.07
Pole Vault: t-34. Tristan Slater, 5.00m (16-4.75)
Saturday's Results
Women's Competitors
200m Quarterfinals: 12. Shania Collins, 23.11 (+0.4); 22. Lenysse Dyer, 23.53 (+0.4)
4x100m Relay: Tennessee (Cidae'a Woods, Shania Collins, Lenysse Dyer, Maia McCoy), DQ
4x400m Relay: 13. Tennessee (Lenysse Dyer, Brooklynn Broadwater, Layla White, Shania Collins), 3:37.20
Triple Jump: 43. LaChyna Roe, 12.03m/39-5.75 (-1.0)
Shot Put: 9. Cassie Wertman, 16.50m (54-1.75); 22. Stamatia Scarvelis, 15.70m (51-6.25); 47. Tamia Crockett, 13.39m (43-11.25)
Men's Competitors
200m Quarterfinals: 1. Christian Coleman, 19.95 (-0.5)
5000m Semifinals: 13. Zach Long, 14:17.14
4x100m Relay: 4. Tennessee (Darryl Harris, Mustaqeem Williams, Malik Elion, Christian Coleman), 38.92
4x400m Relay: 7. Tennessee (Mustaqeem Williams, Ari Cogdell, Malik Elion, Nathan Strother), 3:04.81
High Jump: t-19. Darryl Sullivan, 2.10m (6-10.75)
Discus: 11. Matthew Zajac, 56.51m (185-4)
Players Mentioned
