The America East has numerous student-athletes ready to compete in the NCAA Division I Track & Field Championships East Preliminary. With many competitors sitting high in the national rankings, the conference has a chance to make some noise on the national level.
Among those in the spotlight for the male competitors is Binghamton’s Jesse Garn, who sits 13th in the nation with his 800-meter time of 1:47.03. Vincent Rentzsch’s longest toss in the javelin of 72.21 meters places him 20th in the college ranks. New Hampshire has Drew Piazza sits 24th in the 800-meter (1:47.66).
For the women, Albany’s Grace Claxton ranks 46th in the nation in the 400-meter hurdles with her fastest time this year of 58.51. The Bearcats will have Keishorea Armstrong will be looking to continue her dominance in the jumping events, where she ranks 20th in the long jump (6.29 meters) and 27th in the triple jump (12.87 meters). Maine’s Robyn McFetters sits 36th in the country in the hammer throw (60.50 meters), and UMBC senior sprinter Mercedes Jackson is tied for the 18th fastest time in the 100-meter dash (11.36). New Hampshire’s Elinor Purrier sits with the nation’s sixth fastest time in the 3,000-meter steeplechase (9:53.53), and teammate Laura Rose Donegan ranks 30th (10:10.15).
Below are the full lists of those who have qualified from the America East.
2015 Division I Outdoor Track and Field Preliminary East Championship Selections
Men
Matthew Campbell, Albany – High Jump
Jordan Crump-King, Albany – Triple Jump
Robert Harris III, Albany – 100-meter
Nathan Hiett, Albany – Pole Vault
Kingsley Ogbonna, Albany – High Jump
Jason Tomlinson, Albany – 400-meter
Devon Willis, Albany – Triple Jump
Jesse Garn, Binghamton – 800-meter
Alexander Parenteau, Maine – Javelin Throw
Jake Leithiser, Maine – 800-meter
Hassan Omar, UMBC – 5,000-meter
Vincent Rentschz, UMBC – Javelin Throw
Kevin Greene, New Hampshire – 1,500-meter
Drew Piazza, New Hampshire – 800-meter
John Prizzi, New Hampshire – 3,000-meter steeplechase
Jacob Renaud, New Hampshire – Hammer Throw
Michael Shanahan, New Hampshore – Hammer Throw
Eric Speakman, Stony Brook – 1,500-meter
Women
Alexandra Baum, Albany – Triple Jump
Grace Claxton, Albany – 400-meter
Veleisha Walker, Albany – Javelin Throw
Keishorea Armstrong, Binghamton - Long Jump, Triple Jump
Robyn McFetters, Maine – Hammer Throw
Paulette Fogle, UMBC – 400-meter hurdles
Mercedes Jackson, UMBC – 100-meter
Anne Twombly, New Hampshire – 1,500-meter
Elinor Purrier, New Hampshire – 3,000-meter steeplechase
Laura Rose Donegan, New Hampshire – 3,000-meter steeplechase
The preliminary championships competitions will be held May 28-30. The East region will be held at the University of North Florida in Jacksonville, Florida and the West region at the University of Texas at Austin in Austin, Texas. The qualifiers out of these regions will compete in the NCAA Division I Men’s and Women’s Outdoor Track and Field Championships held June 10-13 in Eugene, Oregon.
Full List of Participants: http://www.rtspt.com/ncaa/d1outdoor15/