Davidson’s Meister Nabs Spot in High Jump Finals
SACRAMENTO, Calif. - Davidson's freshman high jumper Kristen Meister extended her outstanding rookie season a few more days, grabbing a coveted spot in the finals at the 2007 NCAA Track and Field Championships in Sacramento, Calif. on Wednesday afternoon.
Meister finished in a three-way tie for 12th place to secure a spot in Friday's finals, scheduled for 8:15 p.m. (EST).
From the field of 27, the top 12 (with ties included at 12th place and up to 16 athletes) advanced to the finals. Eleven athletes cleared 1.80 meters, and Meister, along with LSU's Shaunette Davidson and Syracuse's Jillian Drouin, cleared 1.77 meters with no misses to finish tied in 12th place and advance to Friday's competition.
"The hardest part of the meet was today, because of the 27 high jumpers anyone could have qualified," Meister said. "It's been a phenomenal experience. The way they cater to the athletes, the awesome facilities, the extremely qualified and helpful officials, it has been really great."
Rhonda Watkins (UCLA), Kaylene Wagner (Kansas State), Lacy Wilson (Texas Tech), Miruna Mataoanu (Alabama), Levern Spencer (Georgia), Inika McPherson (California), Destinee Hooker (Texas), Sharon Day (Cal Poly), Kristina Bolterstein (Miami-Ohio), Peaches Roach (Iowa) and Rebecca Christensen cleared 1.80 meters and round out the field for Friday's finals. Meister, just the second Wildcat woman trackster to qualify for nationals, is the lone freshman remaining in the group.
"I am extremely proud of Kristen," head coach Jen Straub said. "When we recruited her, we knew that she had All-American potential, and she has not disappointed. She has had a great season, and I couldn't be more excited for her!"
With the bar starting at 1.70 meters, Meister cleared the next two progressions - 1.74 meters and 1.77 meters - as well with no misses, before running into trouble at 1.80 meters.
But misses ended up being the deciding factor when the officials gathered to determine the field for the finals. With the top 12 advancing and up to 16 spots available, Meister, Davidson and Drouin finished tied in 12th place to make the cut.
"It was nerve wracking waiting to find out if I qualified," Meister said. "But when I found out that I qualified I was overjoyed."
The 14 athletes will compete in the finals at 8:15 p.m. (EST) on Friday afternoon.
"It's the last meet of the year, and I just want to have fun," Meister said. "There are 14 phenomenal athletes in the meet, and we all have a chance to have a great day. I'm just hoping to have my best meet of the year."
Brown Competes at NCAA Championships: Day 1
Senior long jumper inches short of qualifying for finals; prepares for triple jump
SACRAMENTO, Calif. ? Senior Nicole Brown of the Georgia Southern Track & Field team competed in her first of two events, Wednesday, at the 2007 NCAA Track & Field Championships, coming up inches short of qualifying for Thursday’s Long Jump finals at the Spanos Sports Complex in Sacramento, Calif.
The Lawrenceville, Ga. native competed in the Long Jump preliminary round, coming up short of qualifying for the next day’s final competition by less than eight inches. Brown hit her longest mark on her first attempt at 6.01m (19’-8.75”). Her second and third jumps were slightly shorter at 5.79m, each. Her jump was 22nd best on the day with the only the top 12 jumpers advancing to the next day’s final.
Brown’s strongest event, the Triple Jump, is slated for Friday, June 8 with the preliminary round beginning at 6:15 p.m. (ET), and will continue with the finals on Saturday, June 9.
Fans can follow the live action of Friday’s events on CSTV, which will air 8:30 p.m. to 11:30 p.m. (ET). Saturday’s events can be seen live on CBS beginning at 1 p.m. until 3 p.m. (ET).
Brown, the school’s first female track & field athlete to advance to the NCAA Championships, won the East Regional Triple Jump competition (May 26) in Gainesville, Fla. with a mark of 43’6.0”, setting a school record in the process. She surpassed her own standard (43’-3.75”) set in 2005.
She also received an at-large bid to the national competition with a qualifying mark in the Long Jump (20’-5”). Brown’s best long jump mark this season qualified her for her second event at Nationals.
Fans can learn more about the 2007 NCAA Track & Field Championships, including the schedule of events and ticket information at http://www.hornetsports.com/sports/ncaaTF/index.asp.