May 27, 2006

Complete Mideast Regional Results in PDF Format
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MEMPHIS, Tenn. - The Memphis track and field teams wrapped up the NCAA Mideast Regional Championships on Saturday with four throwers competing in their second events of the two-day meet at the University of Tennessee.

Sivan Aballi posted the highest finish of any U of M athlete on day two of the meet. The sophomore rebounded from a somewhat substandard effort in the shot put on Friday, to log a 13th-place finish in Saturday's discus with a throw of 148-03" (45.18m).

J.D. Erickson, who placed seventh in the discus on Friday, could never get off his best effort in the shot put, but still managed to place 15th. After fouling on his first two attempts, the senior came up with a toss of 54-01.25" (16.49m) in his final put, but missed out on the event finals.

Susan King placed 18th in the discus with a mark of 144-03" (43.98m), which, when coupled with a 12th-place showing in the shot put, gave her two top-18 showings in her first Regional meet.

After qualifying for NCAA Championships in the shot put on Friday, Gail Lee was unable to come up with a similar result in the hammer, fouling on each of her three attempts and failing to advance to the event finals.

The Mideast Regional meet figures to be the final meet of the season for each of the U of M athletes outside of Lee, who automatically qualified for NCAA Championships in the shot put with a fifth-place showing in Knoxville.

Erickson also has an outside shot at being selected for a bid to the NCAA meet in the discus after placing in the top-eight at Regionals. However, it is a rather unlikely possibility given his 61st national ranking.

The 2006 NCAA Outdoor Championships are scheduled for June 7-10 at Sacramento State University in Sacramento, Calif.

Lee is first set to take to the circle for qualifying rounds of the women's shot put at 7:15 p.m. (PST) Thursday, June 8. The final round of the women's shot put will be held Saturday, June 10, at 12:30 p.m.

Should Erickson receive and at-large bid, qualifying rounds in the discus are set for Wednesday, June 7, at 7 p.m., with finals slated for Friday, June 9, at 6:15 p.m.