Four RedHawks Qualify for NCAA East Prelims
5/17/2012 12:00:00 AM | Men's Track and Field
May 17, 2012
NCAA East Preliminary Rounds Qualifying List | Schedule of Events
INDIANAPOLIS - Four RedHawks will represent the Miami University men's track and field team at the NCAA East Preliminary Rounds May 24-26 in Jacksonville, Fla. Sophomores Jahquil Hargrove and Rob Stein and seniors Nathan Hoch and Adam Ruiz each earned a berth as the NCAA announced the field Thursday.
The first and second rounds of the NCAA Outdoor Track & Field Championships will be held at the University of North Florida's Hodges Stadium. The top 48 athletes per event from both the East and West Regions qualify for the NCAA Prelims, which serves as the opening round(s) of the NCAA Championships.
Hargrove (Norristown, Pa.) qualified 25th in the 400m dash in the East Region with a school-record time of 46.62, which he ran just last Saturday at the MAC Championships, earning him the MAC crown. He broke a school record that had stood since 1988. He is one of just two Mid-American Conference athletes to qualify and has the top MAC time. Hargrove will run in the first round on Thursday, May 24 at 7:20 p.m. and would run again on Friday, May 25 at 6 p.m. in the quarterfinals should he advance past the first round.
The RedHawks have two qualifiers in the discus as Hoch (Logan, Ohio) ranks 34th in the region while Stein (Villa Park, Ill.) is 46th. Hoch clinched a spot with a heave of 52.94m/173-8, which he recorded Saturday at the MAC Championships to place fifth. His mark also ranks seventh in school history. Stein just made the cut with a throw of 51.99m/170-7, which he logged April 13 at the Jesse Owens Classic. His mark ranks 10th all-time at Miami. A total of six MAC athletes qualified in the event, which will be held Thursday, May 24 at 1 p.m. Both Hoch and Stein qualified for the East Prelims in the discus last year, as well.
Ruiz (Mascoutah, Ill.) qualified 48th in the hammer throw with a heave of 57.95m/190-3. His mark ranks fifth in school history and was recorded in front of the home fans at the RedHawk Invitational April 28. He is one of six MAC athletes in the hammer, having also competed in the hammer throw at last year's NCAA East Prelims. The hammer throw is set for Friday, May 25 at 10 a.m.
The top 12 finishers in each event at the East and West Preliminary Rounds then move on to the NCAA Championships, which are hosted by Drake University in Des Moines, Iowa June 6-9. The field for the Preliminary Rounds were determined based on times/marks recorded throughout the season.
--MURedHawks.com--