Meet Results | NCAA East Prelim Information | Day 1 Recap | Day 2 Recap
GREENSBORO, N.C. - Sophomores Nicole Rozario and Jared Thomas followed in the footsteps of a pair of teammates as the University of South Florida track and field duo qualified for the NCAA National Championships during the third and final day of action at the NCAA East Preliminary Round.
Rozario, expected to run Friday night in the 3,000 steeplechase, instead had to run Saturday morning after heavy rains and lightning forced the postponement of the race. She placed eighth overall to earn a spot at the national meet June 9-12 at Hayward Field at the University of Oregon.
"It's exciting because I've always wanted to run there," said Rozario. "I didn't get to go last year (when she was hurt for the USA Junior National Championships). I still don't believe that I made it. Coach (Dena) Reif has been telling me that was our goal since the beginning of the season. It feels very good to see that goal come to life."
Thomas, meanwhile, just squeaked by to get to Oregon, taking 12th overall in the discus at the Irwin Belk Track on the campus of North Carolina A&T. The top 12 finishers in each event at the East Prelim will advance to nationals to meet the top 12 finishers from the West Prelim.
Rozario placed second behind Ashley Higginson of Princeton in the second heat, running a time of 10:30.36. The top three finishers in each of the three heats advanced to the Championships along with the next three best times. Rozario's eighth-place finish among a field of 48 equaled her East Region ranking coming into the meet.
Rozario became USF's first-ever national qualifier in the women's 3,000 steeplechase and the third overall in the steeplechase for the USF program following Jan Erik-Salo and Eddie Melia on the men's side.
Thomas threw 174-3 on his first throw of the afternoon to put him ninth after the three flights of 16 had completed. Thomas was one of 16 to advance to the final, eventually dropping down to 12th by the end of their next three throws. With his mark of 174-3, USF's school record holder just edged out two of his competitors who threw 174-2 and 174-1.
Thomas not only became the first discus thrower on the men's side to qualify for nationals, but he also became the first male thrower in general - shot put, discus, hammer, javelin - to earn a spot at nationals as well.
Rozario and Thomas became the third and fourth Bulls to qualify for the Championships this year following the seventh-place performances by Casey Wagner in the javelin and David Aristil in the 400 hurdles. All four are sophomores and school record holders. They all entered the meet ranked in the top 10 in the East Region.
USF also had four different individuals qualify for nationals in 1999, 2003 and 2008. The Bulls also had four individuals and one relay qualify in 2001.
In other action Saturday, senior Yvana Hepburn saw her collegiate career come to a close after running in the quarterfinal of the 100 hurdles. A day after running her all-time personal best, Hepburn posted a time of 13.50 to finish in 20th.
Also closing his career was senior Tyler Perkins, who also competed in the discus. Perkins took 28th overall after a throw of 162-9.
Finisher one spot lower than Perkins was junior Antillio Bastian in the triple jump, as he came in 29th after a leap of 49-6.25 on his first of three jumps.
