Mississippi State
NCAA East Preliminary (O)
MSU Track & Field Has Historic Day At NCAA Prelims
May 31, 2015 | Track & Field
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – With one meet left in the collegiate season, the Mississippi State track and field teams will advance 15 athletes to Eugene, Ore., for the NCAA Championships.
“The way we performed this weekend shows how far this program has come,” MSU coach Steve Dudley said. “Oregon was the goal and many athletes achieved it. We have 15 athletes going for 15 events this year. We have to go in and continue to work hard.”
Saturday night both Rhianwedd Price and Marta Freitas sealed their spots in the NCAA 1500m run championships. Both running a personal-best in the event, Price ran 4:10.95 to claim first overall, while Freitas had a time of 4:13.17 to clinch second.
With a school record leap, Ebony Brinker jumped 41-11.50 in her third and final jump of the triple jump to claim a spot in the Top 12 and punch her ticket to Oregon. Tiffany Flynn had a personal-best 41-04.25 in the event to finish 19th to end her outstanding freshman season. Flynn's leap ranks fourth all-time in the MSU record books.
Qualifying for the nationals in the heptathlon at the SEC Championships, Erica Bougard qualified for two more events on Saturday night. Bougard ran a personal-best 12.99 in the 100m hurdles to place third before clearing 5-11.50 in the high jump to finish sixth. Both finishes landed her a spot in Oregon.
Both Maroon and White 4x400m relay teams finished in the Top 12 advancing to nationals. Breaking the school record, the women's team comprised of Bougard, Kimari Martin, Ocian Archer and Shayla Luckett ran a time of 3:32.13 to have the 12th-best time in the event. Jovan Davis, Scottie Hearn, Brandon McBride and Alfred Larry ran a time of 3:04.45 to finish fourth overall.
Ste'yce McNeil finished her season after running a time of 13.32 in the 100m hurdles to place 15th.
Another Bulldog unable to advance to Oregon was Jason Harper. Harper had a leap of 49-06.25 to finish 25th in the triple jump.
The NCAA Championships will be June 10-14.
For more information on the MSU track and field teams visit HailState.com and follow on Twitter (@HailStateTF).
Saturday Results
Women:
100m Hurdles: Kendra Harrison, 12.62Q
MSU: 3. Erica Bougard, 12.99Q; 15. Ste'yce McNeil, 13.32
1500m Run: Rhianwedd Price, 4:10.95Q
MSU: 2. Marta Freitas, 4:13.17Q
4x400m Relay: Ohio State, 3:28.37
MSU: 12. Erica Bougard, Kimari Martin, Ocian Archer, Shayla Luckett, 3:32.13
High Jump: Jailah Mason, Morgan State, 5-11.50
MSU: 6. Erica Bougard, 5-11.50; Logan Boss, 5-08.25
Triple Jump: Keturah Orji, Georgia 43-10.75
MSU: 11. Ebony Brinker, 41-11.50; 19. Tiffany Flynn, 41-04.25
Men:
4x400m Relay: LSU, 3:02.48
MSU: 4. Jovan Davis, Scottie Hearn, Brandon McBride and Alfred Larry, 3:04.45
Triple Jump: Marquis Dendy, Florida, 53-04.50
MSU: 25. Jason Harper, 49-06.25
Players Mentioned
