Bulldogs Travel to Sunshine State for NCAA East Preliminaries
STARKVILLE, Miss. - Seventeen athletes will travel to the University of North Florida on Thursday to take part in the NCAA Outdoor Track and Field East Preliminaries. Each one takes with them the goal of extending Mississippi State's outdoor track and field season a few weeks, by finishing as one of the top 12 performers in their event and earning a spot in the NCAA Outdoor Championships.
James Harris will be quite busy over the next three days as he is scheduled to compete in four events. To begin the hectic time, Harris will join his teammate and All-SEC honoree Marcus Jackson to compete in the high jump. Following that Harris will meet up with Daundre Barnaby and Tavaris Tate as the three take a turn in the 400-meter dash.
After completing the 400-meter dash, Harris and Tate will join D'Angelo Cherry and Jarrett Samuels for a go at the 4x100-meter relay, but the pair does not stop there. Tate and Harris will then link back up with Barnaby and add Emanuel Mayers for the 4x400-meter relay.
The 4x100-meter relay will not be the only action that Cherry or Samuels sees in Jacksonville. Cherry will take his turn lacing up for the 100-meter dash, while the SEC All-Freshman Samuels will reach for new distance in the long jump, where he will be joined by Trevarus Christian.
Mayers will also see double action at the meet, as he is scheduled to lace up with fellow Bulldog Nathan Arnett for a turn in the 400-meter hurdles.
Rounding out the Bulldog contingency will be Jason Harper in the triple jump and Ed Wesela who is hoping to finish his senior season strong in the shot put.
A quartet of Maroon and White women will make the trek to Florida, including a pair of sisters who look to continue making an impression on MSU track and field.
Rochelle Farquharson will start things off as she competes in the long jump, while her sister Racquel is slated to compete in the 100-meter hurdles. Joining the Farquharsons, will be Jody-Ann Muir in the 400-meter dash and Favian Cowards in the hammer throw.
Once action in Jacksonville wraps, MSU will return to Starkville to await notification on whether they qualified for the NCAA Outdoor Championships, which will be held June 6 - 9 in Iowa.