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Jackson Secures Spot In NCAA Championships
May 29, 2010
GREENSBORO, N.C. - Sophomore hurdler Robert Jackson joins elite company in University of Memphis track and field program history as he qualified for the NCAA Championships with an impressive run in the semi-finals at the 2010 NCAA East Regional in Greensboro, N.C., on Saturday. Jackson clocked the second-best time of his young career on Saturday to secure his spot in the NCAA Championships in Eugene, Ore. With a time of 13.81 seconds, the Snellville, Ga., native joins former Tigers and Olympians, Terron Wright, a national champion in the 60yd hurdles in 1981, and Daniel Kiss as representatives from the U of M in the NCAA Championships 110m hurdles. "Robert ran another great race tonight," head coach Kevin Robinson said. "He had a really bad start, coming out of the blocks last, but he ran down the field at hurdle seven. Great, high pressure performance and this was probably the meet of his career to this point. It is a great honor to make the NCAA meet and he did it as a sophomore which is phenomenal. He is a great person, a dedicated athlete and a pleasure to coach." A day after coming .06 seconds shy of qualifying for the NCAA Championships in the 100m dash, junior sprinter LaShundra Kershaw returned to the Irwin Bell Track hoping to qualify for the championships in the 200m dash. Kershaw finished the 200m dash semi-final with a time of 23.79 seconds, coming up .27 seconds short of the 200m dash qualifying time.
"LaShundra had a very successful meet running a lifetime best in the 100m dash, and her third-fastest time in the 200m dash," Robinson said. "I am very proud of her effort and the season that she had." Conference USA Outdoor Championships gold medalist discus thrower Steffen Nerdal and silver medalist discus thrower Seth Major each threw in the discus throw competition Saturday morning, but each failed to qualify for the NCAA Outdoor Championships. Nerdal, who will advance to the national championships in the hammer throw, posted a best throw of 51.36m (168-06) to finish 19th. Major finished 18th with a throw of 51.59m (169-03). For the first time since 1984, a trio of Tigers will represent the U of M at the NCAA Outdoor Track and Field Championships. Junior hurdler Richard Lowe will open competition for the Tigers at the NCAA Championships on Wed., June 9, at 8:45 p.m. (CT) in the 400m hurdles semi-final. On Thurs., June 10 at 7:35 p.m. (CT), Jackson will vie for a spot in the NCAA final in the 110m hurdles. Nerdal will contend for his fourth All-American performance on Fri., June 11 at 7:00 p.m. (CT), when he enters the throwing ring for the last time in his illustrious career at the U of M.
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Memphis Tigers
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