Twenty-Two Bulldogs Qualify for NCAA East Preliminary Competition

2015 NCAA 1500m champion Rhianwedd Price is returning to the postseason after redshirting in 2016

Twenty-Two Bulldogs Qualify for NCAA East Preliminary Competition

May 18, 2017 | Track & Field

STARKVILLE, Miss. – Twenty-two Bulldogs have qualified in 24 events for the NCAA East Preliminary round of the track and field postseason, the NCAA announced Wednesday.

The women's squad will have 11 representatives, while the men will also take 11 athletes and two relay groups to Lexington, Kentucky May 25-27. The qualifiers out of the East Region will compete in the NCAA Division I Men's and Women's Outdoor Track and Field Championships held June 7-10 in Eugene, Oregon.

Mia Meydrich and Leah Lott qualified in multiple events for the ladies, with Meydrich posting top marks in both the 5000m and 10,000m runs. Lott qualified in both the 100m hurdle competition as well as the long jump.

The Bulldogs are also sending three freshmen to Lexington in Monica Mosley (400mH), Alexis Farley (triple jump) and Daniel Nixon (800m). Each is one of just seven freshmen to qualify in their respective events.

2015 NCAA 1500m champion Rhianwedd Price qualified in that event, and will look to defend her title after redshirting in 2016. Her sister Ffion Price will join her in the 1500m preliminary round. Keturah Smith will round out the women's runners in Lexington, competing in the 400m dash.

In the field, high jumper Logan Boss highlights the Bulldogs' qualifiers. Boss earned indoor All-America status during the indoor campaign after finishing third in the nation. Boss owns both the indoor and outdoor Mississippi State high jump records, and owns an East Region leading 1.89m mark in 2017.

Tiffany Flynn, who also earned All-America honors during the indoor season, qualified in the triple jump. Flynn is the school record holder in that event, and owns the fifth-best mark in the region this season at 13.33m. MSU's freshman record holder in the triple jump Alexis Farley will also be heading to Lexington for a chance to go to Eugene.

The Bulldog women will be sending two women's throwers in Haley Reynolds (discus) and Brianna Smith (Hammer).

Seven runners from the men's team qualified, with Lawrence Crawford (100m), All-American Charles Taylor (200m), Stephan James (400m), Juston Waters (400m), Daniel Nixon (800m), Ro'Derick Spears (110mH), and Rasheed Tatham (400mH) all punching their tickets to Lexington.

Two men's jumpers qualified in Willie Reed (long jump) and Romain Bourreau (triple jump). MSU's elite javelin team of Nicolas Quijera and 2016 NCAA javelin champion Curtis Thompson also qualified. Quijera will be making his first appearance in NCAA postseason action after winning a national championship in his native country of Spain in 2016. Thompson will look to defend his title after becoming the first Bulldog to win a national javelin title last spring.

The men also qualified in both the 4x100m and 4x400m relays.

"We are excited about this group that is moving on to the next stage of the season," MSU coach Steve Dudley said. "They have been working since January for this opportunity, and we expect big things from all of them. We have a couple of national champions who are looking to defend their titles, and have freshmen that will get their first look at national competition. We are excited for this opportunity, and I look forward to seeing our athletes compete."

For more information on the MSU track and field team, follow the program on Twitter, like them on Facebook and join them on Instagram by searching @HailStateTF. You can also find all access coverage on SnapChat by searching 'HailStateSnap'.

East Region Qualifiers

Women

Keturah Smith, 400m Dash
Rhianwedd Price, 1500m Run
Ffion Price, 1500m Run
Mia Meydrich, 5000m Run, 10,000m Run
Leah Lott, 100m Hurdle, Long Jump
Monica Mosley, 400m Hurdle
Logan Boss, High Jump
Tiffany Flynn, Triple Jump
Alexis Farley, Triple Jump
Haley Reynolds, Discus
Brianna Smith, Hammer

Men

Lawrence Crawford, 100m
Charles Taylor, 200m
Stephan James, 400m
Juston Waters, 400m
Daniel Nixon, 800m
Ro'Derick Spears, 110mH
Rasheed Tatham, 400mH
Willie Reed, Long Jump
Romain Bourreau, Triple Jump
Nicolas Quijera, Javelin
Curtis Thompson, Javelin
4x100m Relay
4x400m Relay