The University of Mississippi Athletics
Ole Miss
NCAA Mideast Regional
Kirui, McGuire and Yarbrough Advance To NCAA Championships
5/27/2006 | Track and Field
May 27, 2006
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. - Ole Miss freshman Barnabas Kirui turned in a time of 8:47.85 to finish second in the 3,000-meter steeplechase on day two at the NCAA Mideast regional in Knoxville, Tenn. Kirui's runner-up finish advances him to his first NCAA Outdoor Championships.
"Barnabas continues to impress," said Ole Miss head coach Joe Walker. "His has a great impact on our team as a freshman. He ran a great technical race. The times across the board were not as low because of the humidity, but I think this was Barnabas' best race all season. He could really challenge at the national meet."
Kirui fell shot of his own school record of 8:45.61 set at the SEC Championships.
Sophomore John Yarbrough turned in a mark of 13.97 in the men's 110-meter hurdles to finish third. Yarbrough's time was also good enough to advance him to his first NCAA Championships. Yarbrough's old brother, Linnie Yarbrough of Middle Tennessee, also advanced to the NCAA Championships with a second place finish.
"John performed very well today," said Walker. "The times for the race were not good as the prelims because the runners were running in a head wind, but John turned in a strong performance. He was not able to beat his brother, but it was a special day for his family to finish second and third."
Freshman Derek McGuire fell short of his own school record in the shot put with a mark of 58-03.00. However, McGuire's mark was enough for fifth place and advances him to his first NCAA Championships.
"Derek is another one of our young guy to really step in up," said Walker. "He was seventh in the finals going into his last attempt and showed his maturity with his best throw. He has worked very hard all season to put himself in this position."
In the finals of the women's 400 meters sophomore Kenyata Coleman turned in a personal best time of 53.15 to finish sixth. Coleman finish one place short of automatically qualifying for the NCAA Championships, however she still may be selected as an at-large selection.
"Kenyata had a strong race," said Walker. "She fell just short of the top five, but her time probably put her at the top of the at-large pool. If she makes it to nationals she has a great shot to break the 53 seconds mark."
Coleman participated in the 2006 NCAA Indoor Championships in the 400 meters.
The Lady Rebels 4x400 team of Kim Mulkey, Cachet Murray, Marquita Aldridge and Coleman turned in a of 3:37.75 for a seventh place finish. The time moves the quartet into second place in school history.
The Rebel women finished the Mideast regional in 11th place with 19.5 team points. The Rebel men placed 14th in the team standing with 18 total points. Both finishes were the highest for Ole Miss since the NCAA switched to the regional format in 2002.
"I am very proud of how all our athletes preformed the past two days," said Walker. "To record our best finishes ever at what I believe is the deepest regional in the country with such a young team says a lot about our future."
At-large bids to the NCAA Outdoor Championships are handed out on Monday. The 2006 NCAA Outdoor Championships began June, 7 in Sacramento, Calif.
Ole Miss Agate
Men's Results
110m hurdles
3. John Yarbrough - 13.97
3,000m steeplechase
2. Barnabas Kirui - 8:47.85
4x400m
9. Ole Miss - 3:08.63
Shot Put
5. Derek McGuire - 58-03.00
Women's Results
400m
6. Kenyata Coleman - 53.15
4x400m
7. Ole Miss - 3:37.75
Hammer
19. Crystal Stewart - 170-10
