Thursday, May 26
Jacksonville, Fla.
ALL DAY
Samford University
vs
NCAA East Preliminaries
Oates, Nelson & Guillorel All Earn Trip To NCAAs
5.28.16 | Track and Field
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – A trio of Samford University track & field sophomore student-athletes advanced to the NCAA DI Outdoor Track & Field Championships after recording qualifying marks at the NCAA East Preliminaries. A total of five Bulldogs competed over the three-day competition at Hodges Stadium.
Redshirt sophomore Tray Oates was the first to advance to the NCAA Championships which will be held in Eugene, Oregon on June 8-11. Oates powered his way over the bar for a 5.30m mark in the men's pole vault to take first place in his flight and second overall in the event.
"Tray got it all started on Thursday for us." Head Coach Rod Tiffin said. "He looked like one of the top vaulters in the country. Everything was clicking and he made it look easy."
This will be the Acworth, Georgia native's second-consecutive trip to the NCAA Championships. Last season Oates advanced to the big stage along with Keyth Fightmaster and Brandon Hazouri. It was the most the Samford program had ever sent in a single trip.
Fellow sophomore Karisa Nelson will make her first career appearance at the championships after having placed third overall in the women's 1,500 meter run. The Brewton, Alabama native raced her way to a time of 4:15.12.
"Karisa keeps impressing us every time she takes the track." Tiffin continued. "She beat some of the best women in the country this weekend. I can't wait to see her race in Eugene."
Nelson has had a sensational outdoor season so far as she has broken the Samford school-record in the 1,500 meter event twice.
The Bulldogs third qualifier came late in the evening as sophomore Arsène Guillorel took third place in his heat of the men's 5,000 meter run. The Pontchateau, France native had ran the event only once this outdoor season and qualified for the preliminaries the week before the Southern Conference Outdoor Championships.
"Arsène finished off the meet like it is supposed to be done." Tiffin said. "He made a huge move to take the lead with three laps to go and just kept hammering.
He go nipped by the first and second place guys in the country in the last 100 meters. It was exciting to watch when someone like him who runs with his heart on his sleeve and puts it all on the line."
Guillorel finished fourth overall with a time of 14:09.59 to secure his first ever appearance to the NCAA Championships in Eugene.
A pair of other Bulldogs advanced to the NCAA East Preliminaries but just missed qualifying for championships in Eugene. Sarah Sanford participated in the women's 400 meter hurdles and recorded a time of 1:01.98 while Marquis Barnes jumped 7.23m in the men's long jump.
Redshirt sophomore Tray Oates was the first to advance to the NCAA Championships which will be held in Eugene, Oregon on June 8-11. Oates powered his way over the bar for a 5.30m mark in the men's pole vault to take first place in his flight and second overall in the event.
"Tray got it all started on Thursday for us." Head Coach Rod Tiffin said. "He looked like one of the top vaulters in the country. Everything was clicking and he made it look easy."
This will be the Acworth, Georgia native's second-consecutive trip to the NCAA Championships. Last season Oates advanced to the big stage along with Keyth Fightmaster and Brandon Hazouri. It was the most the Samford program had ever sent in a single trip.
Fellow sophomore Karisa Nelson will make her first career appearance at the championships after having placed third overall in the women's 1,500 meter run. The Brewton, Alabama native raced her way to a time of 4:15.12.
"Karisa keeps impressing us every time she takes the track." Tiffin continued. "She beat some of the best women in the country this weekend. I can't wait to see her race in Eugene."
Nelson has had a sensational outdoor season so far as she has broken the Samford school-record in the 1,500 meter event twice.
The Bulldogs third qualifier came late in the evening as sophomore Arsène Guillorel took third place in his heat of the men's 5,000 meter run. The Pontchateau, France native had ran the event only once this outdoor season and qualified for the preliminaries the week before the Southern Conference Outdoor Championships.
"Arsène finished off the meet like it is supposed to be done." Tiffin said. "He made a huge move to take the lead with three laps to go and just kept hammering.
He go nipped by the first and second place guys in the country in the last 100 meters. It was exciting to watch when someone like him who runs with his heart on his sleeve and puts it all on the line."
Guillorel finished fourth overall with a time of 14:09.59 to secure his first ever appearance to the NCAA Championships in Eugene.
A pair of other Bulldogs advanced to the NCAA East Preliminaries but just missed qualifying for championships in Eugene. Sarah Sanford participated in the women's 400 meter hurdles and recorded a time of 1:01.98 while Marquis Barnes jumped 7.23m in the men's long jump.
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