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The University of Mississippi Athletics
Rebels Gear Up For NCAA East Preliminary
5/25/2011 | Track and Field
May 25, 2011
NCAA East Preliminary Round Central |
OXFORD, Miss. - With a chance to send numerous athletes to the NCAA Division I Outdoor Championships, the Ole Miss track and field program will boast a strong presence in this week's East Preliminary Round at the E.C. Billy Hayes Track on the campus of Indiana University in Bloomington, Thursday-Saturday.
There will be 24 Rebel athletes - 13 men and 11 women - competing in 30 different events at the East regional, including 2011 SEC Champions Lee Ellis Moore (men's 400 meter hurdles) and Ricky Robertson (men's high jump), who both rank No. 1 in the region and have led the Rebel men to a No. 18 national ranking by the USTFCCCA this week.
Ole Miss originally had 25 athletes to qualify for the preliminary round, but Aria Gaines (women's triple jump) had to withdraw for medical reasons.
Also among the Rebels to qualify are 2011 SEC runners-up Carson Blanks (men's 400 meter hurdles) and Juliana Smith (women's hammer throw). Current Rebels who have been named All-Americans (indoor or outdoor) during their collegiate career include Moore, Robertson, Mike Granger and Caleb Lee on the men's side, as well as females Smith, Sofie Persson and LaJada Baldwin.
Competition in Bloomington will begin Thursday with Smith in the women's hammer throw at 10 a.m. CT. Field and track events will continue through about 8:15 p.m. on Thursday, with more action from 10 a.m.-8:10 p.m. Friday and 10 a.m.-8:45 p.m. Saturday.
The NCAA Selection Committee accepted the top 48 performers in each individual event and the top 24 relay teams in both relays to compete at each site hosting the NCAA Preliminary Rounds for a total of 96 individuals and 48 relays competing in each event nationwide. The West Preliminary Round is being held in Eugene, Ore.
The top 12 finishers in each event at each regional (for a total of 24 per event) will qualify for the national semifinal and final rounds of the 2011 NCAA Division I Outdoor Track & Field Championships to be held at Drake Stadium in Des Moines, Iowa, from June 8-11.
Ole Miss individuals who currently rank among the nation's top 24 in their event are (men) Robertson in the high jump (2nd, 7-06.00), Moore in the 400 meter hurdles (6th, 49.82), Jonathan Juin in the 100 meters (9th, 10.13), Blanks in the 400 meter hurdles (13th, 50.50), Granger in the 100 meters (15th, 10.16), Kentrell Sanders in the triple jump (18th, 52-04.75), Juin in the 200 meters (20th, 20.67) and Lee in the long jump (20th, 25-06.00); and (women) Smith in the hammer throw (15th, 202-11), Neal Tisher in the pole vault (16th, 13-09.75), Persson in the 400 meter hurdles (20th, 57.56) and Betty Williams in the discus (20th, 176-11).
Ole Miss Participants in 2011 NCAA Outdoor Track & Field East Preliminary Round
MEN
Athlete, Event, Time/Mark (Region Rank)
Jonathan Juin, 100 meters, 10.13 (7)
Mike Granger, 100 meters, 10.16 (8)
Jonathan Juin, 200 meters, 20.67 (7)
Dante Oliver, 400 meters, 47.16 (36)
Martin Kirui, 3000 meter steeplechase, 8:54.45 (24)
Lee Ellis Moore, 400 meter hurdles, 49.82 (1)
Carson Blanks, 400 meter hurdles, 50.50 (6)
Ras-Len Bully, 400 meter hurdles, 51.88 (25)
Ricky Robertson, high jump, 7-06.00 (1)
Caleb Lee, long jump, 25-06.00 (10)
Kentrell Sanders, triple jump, 52-04.75 (10)
Morris Kersh, triple jump, 51-07.75 (15)
Benjamin Lapane, javelin, 210-9 (33)
Granger, Bully, Lee, Juin, 4x100 meter relay, 39.88 (9)
Oliver, Blanks, Bush, Moore, 4x400 meter relay, 3:06.77 (7)
WOMEN
Athlete, Event, Time/Mark (Region Rank)
Jasmine Williams, 100 meters, 11.63 (40)
LaJada Baldwin, 200 meters, 23.63 (27)
Jasmine Williams, 200 meters, 23.85 (45)
Kristin Bridges, 400 meters, 53.22 (8)
Lauren Hollingsworth, 400 meters, 54.10 (35)
Sofie Persson, 400 meter hurdles, 57.56 (8)
Sofia Hellberg-Jonsen, 400 meter hurdles, 59.90 (46)
Neal Tisher, pole vault, 13-09.75 (8)
Brittany Bozeman, long jump, 20-02.50 (27)
Marci Morman, triple jump, 40-10.50 (48)
Betty Williams, discus, 176-11 (10)
Juliana Smith, hammer throw, 202-11 (7)
Brittany Bozeman, javelin, 144-9 (39)
Bridges, Gaines, J. Williams, Baldwin, 4x100 meter relay, 44.93 (16)
Hollingsworth, Hellberg-Jonsen, Bridges, Persson, 4x400 meter relay, 3:33.22 (3)
