Bearkats ready for NCAA Regional track
5/13/2009 2:45:00 PM | Women's Track & Field
Sixteen Bearkat student-athletes in 15 different events are slated to compete for Sam Houston State in the NCAA Division I regional track and field meet to be hosted by the University of Oklahoma in Norman May 29-30.
The top five finishers in individual events and the top three performers in the relays at regionals automatically qualify for the NCAA Division I Outdoor Track and Field Championships scheduled June 10-13 in Fayetteville, AR.
One Bearkat, Matt Johnson, already has qualified for nationals in the decathlon with his score of 7,210 points at the Southland Conference meet. Johnson ranks 20th nationally. There is not regional qualifying in the decathlon. Of the 16 Bearkats, 12 are men and four are women.
Additional Bearkats could add their names to the list of athletes headed to the regionals.
"We will have one more opportunity for some of our kids to improve their standing at a 'Last Chance' meet before the NCAA regionals," SHSU head coach Curtis Collier said. "We had some outstanding performances last week at the Southland Conference meet and have several young men and women who stand among the top 10 in the region."
In the past 11 men and 14 women have been finalists at the NCAA Regional meet. Six have posted top five finishes to earn a berth in nationals. Last year, Dess Meek won the NCAA Regional high jump.
The current list of Sam Houston State NCAA regional qualifiers and their NCAA national and regional rankings:
| Men's Athletes | Event | Mark | NCAA Rank |
Reg. Rank |
| Jon Tipton | Discus | 190' 10" | 12th | 2nd |
| Lane Dennis | 400m hurdles | 50.69 | 15th | 2nd |
| 4x400 relay | 3:09.37 | 63rd | 9th | |
| Chris Cralle | Hammer | 215' 0" | 11th | 3rd |
| Darryl Hayes | 400m dash | 45.93 | 11th | 4th |
| 4x400 relay | 3:09.37 | 63rd | 9th | |
| Michael Courtney | 400m dash | 46.04 | 13th | 5th |
| 4x400 relay | 3:09.37 | 63rd | 9th | |
| Chris Gilchrist | Long jump | 25' 2" | 23rd | 6th |
| Triple jump | 49' 9.75" | 28th | 10th | |
| John Thomas | 4x400 relay | 3:09.37 | 63rd | 9th |
| 110m hurdles | 14.22 | 71st | 19th | |
| Leon Banks | 4x400 relay (alt) | 3:09.37 | 63rd | 9th |
| Curtis Patterson | Long jump | 24' 3.5" | 71st | 16th |
| Artis Edwards | Long jump | 24' 5.5" | 71st | 16th |
| Jay Newman | 400m hurdles | 52.50 | 88th | 23rd |
| Matt Johnson | Decathlon | 7,210 | 20th | ---- |
| Women's Athletes | Event | Mark | NCAA Rank |
Reg. Rank |
| Tiana Lee | 400m hurdles | 01:00.9 | 34th | 2nd |
| Dess Meek | High jump | 5' 8.75" | 41st | 11th |
| Ty Spiller | 100m hurdles | 13.83 | 79th | 18th |
| Devyn Mitchell | 800m dash | 2:11.94 |
