Rodriguez Sala Advances In 1500 Meters At NCAA East Preliminaries

Thursday, May 26

Jacksonville, Fla.

University of Memphis

NCAA East Preliminaries

Ashley Pryke, 2015-16 Women's Track and Field

Photo by: Nikki Boertman

Rodriguez Sala Advances In 1500 Meters At NCAA East Preliminaries

May 26, 2016 | Men's Track and Field, Women's Track and Field

Seven Tigers to compete in four field events in Friday's action.

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – University of Memphis junior Martina Rodriguez Sala advanced to Saturday's 1500 meters quarterfinal round with her overall 14^th-place performance in Thursday action at the NCAA East Preliminaries. The NCAA three-day meet is being held at Hodges Stadium on the University of North Florida campus.

Rodriguez Sala placed fourth in her heat with a time of 4:20.65, which was only .19 seconds off her own school record (4:20.46) that she set at the Texas Relays earlier this season. The top-five from each of the four 1500 meter heats, along with the next four best times, advanced to Saturday's quarterfinal.

Freshman Ashley Pryke narrowly missed a trip to June's NCAA Championships in the women's javelin. Pryke, who set the Memphis women's javelin record earlier this season, placed 14^th overall with a throw of 153-9 (46.86m) Thursday. She missed qualifying for the NCAA Championships by under two feet.

Martine Bye (137-2; 41.81m) and Jasmine Wilson (127-3; 38.80m) placed 34^th and 42^nd, respectively, in the women's javelin. Memphis was one of three schools with three competitors in the women's javelin at the NCAA East Preliminaries (Auburn, Virginia Tech).

Senior Sydney Wright placed 33^rd in the women's long jump with a 19-2.75 (5.86m) mark.

On the men's side, Aaron Persinger was the Tigers' highest finisher, posting a 43^rd-place performance in the 400-meter hurdles (53.94). Freshman Davon DeMoss was 44^th in the men's 100 meters (10.77), and Juan Paul Green was 46^th in the men's 400 meters (48.05).

Memphis continues action at the NCAA East Preliminaries Friday with seven performers competing in four field events.

Michael Criticos starts the day at 11 a.m. (CT) in the men's javelin. Later Friday afternoon, Rafael Vallery and Luke Vaughn compete in the men's discus at 3 p.m. (CT), followed by a trio of Tigers – Clara Amat-Fernandez, Dorina Baiker and Carolina Carmichael – in the women's pole vault at 4 p.m. (CT).

Bye has her second chance at qualifying for an NCAA Championships spot Friday, this time in the women's high jump.

Memphis Men's Results
100m – 44. Davon DeMoss, 10.77
400m – 46. Juan Paul Green, 48.05
400m hurdles – 43. Aaron Persinger, 53.94

Memphis Women's Results
1500m – 4. Martina Rodriguez Sala, 4:20.65
Javelin – 14. Ashley Pryke, 153-9 (46.86m); 34. Martine Bye, 137-2 (41.81m); 42. Jasmine Wilson, 127-3 (38.80m)
Long jump – 33. Sydney Wright, 19-2.75 (5.86m)