Louisville Track and Field Fills 24 Entries at NCAA Preliminary Rounds

The Cardinals will compete at the NCAA East Preliminary Rounds from May 24-26 in Jacksonville, Fla.

 

May 17, 2012

 

LOUISVILLE, Ky. – Nineteen University of Louisville track and field student-athletes have earned a spot to participate in the 2012 NCAA Division I Outdoor Track and Field East Preliminary Rounds, the NCAA Division I Men’s and Women’s Track and Field Committee announced Thursday.

 

The event, which spans three days (May 24-26), will be held at Hodges Stadium on the campus of the University of North Florida in Jacksonville, Fla. Tickets can be purchased in advance at the UNF Arena ticket office, online, or by phone at (904) 620-BIRD (2473). On the day of the event, tickets can be purchased at the gate starting one hour prior. An all-session pass for adults is $35, while youth (under 17) and college student all-session passes are $25; single-session passes for students is $10 and $15 for adults. Children two and younger are admitted free of charge.

 

Louisville’s women’s side had 11 athletes earn 16 entries. Chinwe Okoro leads the pack, ranking first in the East in the shot put and discus events. Okoro owns school-record marks in both: 17.39m/57-0.75 in the shot put and 58.25m/191-1 in the discus. Jenna Wargo owns a No. 1 standing as well, ranking atop the region in the javelin with a career-best 52.04m/170-9. Also in the field events, Michelle Theophille is one of three to qualify in the high jump event. Theophille is third in the region after clearing a school-record tying 1.86m/6-1.25. Holly Knight has the top track standing on the team, ranking second in the 10,000m.

 

On the men’s side, eight athletes secured a total of eight spots. Mattias Wolter and Gordon Dooley each qualified for the 3,000m steeplechase. Wolter has the 12th-fastest time in the region with 8:50.00. Notably, Calvin Arsenault, a freshman, earned a spot in the 110m hurdles. In the field events, Wesley Smith (long jump), Seon Powell (triple jump) and Sam Bombaugh (hammer throw) each qualified in their respective field events. Currently, Smith’s jump of 7.68m/25-2.50 stands 13th in the East region.

 

The fields in Jacksonville will consist of 48 athletes in each of the individual events and 24 teams in each of the relays. The top-12 individuals or relay teams at the end of the weekend earn a trip to Des Moines, Iowa, from June 6-9, to participate in the NCAA Outdoor Championships. The 12 in each event from Jacksonville and the 12 in each event from Austin, Texas - site of the West Preliminary Rounds - will comprise the 24 athlete and relay team fields that will compete at Drake Stadium for the national title.

 

For all of the latest information on Louisville cross country and track and field, log on to UofLsports.com, or, for up-to-the-minute updates, follow the team's Twitter account at www.twitter.com/louisvilletrack.

 

Cardinal Athletes Accepted into the 2012 NCAA East Preliminary Rounds

 

MEN (8)

Emmanuel Matadi – 100m

Calvin Arsenault – 110m Hurdles

Jordon Frazier – 400m Hurdles

Mattias Wolter – 3,000m Steeplechase

Gordon Dooley – 3,000m Steeplechase

Wesley Smith – Long Jump

Seon Powell – Triple Jump

Sam Bombaugh – Hammer Throw

 

WOMEN (11)

Ahlivia Spencer – 800m

Holly Knight – 10,000m

Michelle Theophille – High Jump

Megan Schubert – High Jump

Maggie Gilbertson – High Jump

Charachesicia Lockhart – Long Jump/Triple Jump

Chinwe Okoro – Shot Put/Discus

Khadija Abdullah – Shot Put/Discus

Amashi Kendall – Shot Put/Discus/Hammer Throw

Patrice Gates – Hammer Throw

Jenna Wargo – Javelin

 

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For More Information, Contact:

Ira Green, (502) 852-4857

Ira.Green@louisville.edu