GREENSBORO, N.C. – Severe weather postponed the running of the 3,000-meter steeplechase races on the second day of the NCAA East Regional Preliminary Rounds at the Irwin Belk Track on the campus of North Carolina A&T University.
The two 3,000-meter steeplechase races were added at the beginning of Saturday’s scheduled events. All the other events Friday were completed, and Florida added five additional athletes to the seven already qualified for the NCAA Division I Outdoor Track and Field Championships June 9-13 at the University of Oregon.
“I’m very, very pleased with our team’s effort and focus this weekend,” Florida head coach Mike Holloway said. “This can be a difficult meet if you come in and don’t put your best foot forward right away. We have shown a very high level of intensity and focus this weekend. We’re qualifying well and giving ourselves a lot of opportunities for Eugene, and that’s what it’s all about.”
Junior Kemal Mesic was first in qualifying for the men’s shot put, punching his ticket to Eugene, Ore., with a heave of 62 feet, 10½ inches in his third attempt. Mesic passed on his remaining attempts following his first-place heave.
Sprinters Jeff Demps and Terrell Wilks qualified for the semifinal round of the 100 meters in Eugene. Demps was fourth overall in the quarterfinals Friday, equaling his season-best time of 10.06 seconds while Wilks was ninth overall in 10.28 seconds.
Wilks later qualified for Saturday’s quarterfinal round of the 200 meters. He placed fourth overall in the first round with his clocking of 20.76 seconds.
Senior Calvin Smith and freshman Tony McQuay each advanced to the 400 semifinals at Oregon. Smith was second overall with his quarterfinal effort of 45.06 seconds. McQuay was 10th overall in 45.73 seconds.
NCAA DIVISION I OUTDOOR TRACK AND FIELD CHAMPIONSHIPS
EAST REGIONAL / Irwin Belk Track / North Carolina A&T State University / Greensboro, N.C. / Friday, May 28, 2010 / Florida qualifiers for NCAA Finals at University of Oregon June 9-13, 2010
WOMEN
Javelin: 1. Evelien Dekkers (165 feet, 7 inches)
Shot put: 1. Mariam Kevkhishvili (57 feet, 10½ inches); 5. Keely Medeiros (53 feet, 9 inches); 10. Fidela James (52 feet, 3¼ inches)
Long jump: 3. Shara Proctor (21 feet, 0 inches)
MEN
Shot put: 1. Kemal Mesic (62 feet, 10½ inches)
Long jump: 1. Christian Taylor (26 feet, 0¾ inches)
100 meters: 4. Jeff Demps (10.06 seconds); 9. Terrell Wilks (10.28 seconds)
400 meters: 2. Calvin Smith (45.06 seconds); 10. Tony McQuay (45.73 seconds)
10,000 meters: 12. Josh Izewski (30:12.18)