May 22, 2012

Memphis Notebook/NCAA East

MEMPHIS, TENN.- Memphis track and field athletes travel to travel to Jacksonville, Fla. for the NCAA East Preliminary set to begin Thursday at the University of North Florida. For the second straight outdoor season the Tigers will send 14 competitors to the preliminary round, matching the school record.

"There is not just one driving force, several of these athletes have a chance to advance," said head track and field coach Kevin Robinson. "What's different about this team than previous teams, it has quality and it has depth not just one or the other."

Kala Funderburk (100m hurdles, 4 x 400m), Maya Williamson (400m hurdles, 4 x 400m), Monica Mason (4 x 400m), Keyona Neal (4 x 400m) and Laura Toldy (high jump) will represent the Blue and Gray for the women. For the Tiger men, Fabian Fiege (800m), Robert Jackson (110m hurdles), Tyrell Forde (110m hurdles), Brandon Williams (400m hurdles), Darius Lynwood (high jump), Karlis Pujats (pole vault), Austin Crenshaw (pole vault), Will Hubber (hammer throw), and Kyle Bynum (javelin throw) will represent Memphis at the preliminary.

The Tigers begin first round action on Thursday will the men's javelin throw at 10 a.m. (CT). Results from the NCAA East Preliminary be posted on GoTigersGo.com as they are made available.

Experience Counts

This will not be the first trip to the NCAA post-season for Robert Jackson, Brandon Williams, Kalis Pujats and Austin Crenshaw. Williams and Crenshaw each made the 2011 preliminaries as freshmen competing in the 400m hurdles and pole vault respectively.

Jackson qualified for the outdoor preliminaries in 2010 and 2011 in the 110m hurdles. In 2010,Jackson qualified for the NCAA Outdoor National Championships where he finished 18th.

Competing in the pole vault, Pujats qualified for the 2010 outdoor preliminary during his first season as a Tiger. Duringthe 2011 indoor season, Pujats made the NCAA Indoor National Championships finishing tied for ninth and receiving Second-Team All-America honors. The Riga, Latvia native qualified for the 2011 outdoor preliminaries, but did not compete due to injury.

Memphis' NCAA East Schedule

Thursday, May 24

 Men's Javelin Throw/Trials 10 a.m. (CT)- Semifinal Trial: Top 16 overall advance to three attempt final, top 12 overall from final advance to Des Moines, Iowa for the National Championship Finals

Men's 400m Hurdles/First Round 3:30 p.m. (CT)-Top three plus nine fastest times advance in each heat

Women's 400m Hurdles/First Round 4 p.m. (CT)- Top three plus nine fastest times advance in each heat

Women's 400m Dash/ First Round 6:45 p.m. (CT)- Top three plus nine fastest times advance in each heat

Men's 800m Run/First Round 7:10 p.m. (CT)- Top three plus nine fastest times advance in each heat

Friday, May 25

Men's Hammer Throw/National Semifinal 9 a.m. (CT)-Semifinal Trial: Top 16 overall advance to three attempt final, top 12 overall from final advance to Des Moines, Iowa for national finals

Women's High Jump/National Semifinal 4 p.m. (CT)-Top 12 overall advance to national finals in Des Moines, Iowa

Men's 110m Hurdles/First Round 4 p.m. (CT)-Top three plus nine fastest times advance in each heat.

Women's 400m Dash/Quarterfinals 5:15 p.m. (CT)-Top 3 per heat, plus next 3 fastest times advance to semifinal in Des Moines, Iowa

Men's 800m run/Quarterfinals 6 p.m. (CT)- Top 3 per heat, plus next 3 fastest times advance to semifinal in Des Moines, Iowa

Men's 400m Hurdles/Quarterfinal 6:30 p.m. (CT)-Top 3 per heat, plus next 3 fastest times advance to semifinal in Des Moines, Iowa

Women's 400m Hurdles/Quarterfinal 6:45 p.m. (CT)-Top 3 per heat, plus next 3 fastest times advance to semifinal in Des Moines, Iowa

Saturday, May 26

Men's Pole Vault/National Semifinal 10 a.m. (CT)- Top 12 overall advance to Des Moines, Iowa for finals

Men's High Jump/National Semifinal 4 p.m. (CT) - Top 12 overall advance to national finals in Des Moines, Iowa

Men's 110m Hurdles/ Quarterfinals 6:05 p.m. (CT)-Top 3 per heat, plus next 3 fastest times advance to semifinal in Des Moines, Iowa

Women's 4 x 400m/Quarterfinal 8:45 p.m. (CT)- Top 3 per heat, plus next 3 fastest times advance to Des Moines, Iowa for the semifinals