University of Memphis Athletics
Memphis Track Optimistic about Big Performances at Mississippi Open
May 01, 2009 | Men's Track and Field
May 1, 2009
MEMPHIS, Tenn. - The University of Memphis track and field team heads into the Mississippi Open on Saturday, May 2 with six NCAA regional qualifiers. The Tigers look to add several more qualifying performances as this weekend's meet is the last before the C-USA Outdoor Championships.
"I expect us to compete at a greater level than we have been all year," said head coach Kevin Robinson. "I'm also expecting our performances to be the best they have been all year. Our goal is to add four to six individuals to our list of regional qualifiers."
The Tigers hold six regional qualifying marks up to this weekend. Sophomore Richard Lowe ran a 51.55 in the 400m hurdles. Fellow sophomore Aaron Whetstone holds two marks including a 7.50m (24-07.25) mark in the long jump and a 15.01m (49-03.00) mark in the triple jump. Senior Christian McDonald rounds out the men with a javelin throw of 62.80m (206-00).
On the women's side, senior Sivan Aballi has qualified for the third time in the shot put with a mark of 15.49m (50-10.00). Freshman Inger Anne Froysedal grabbed her first qualifying mark with a school record 12.90m (42-04.00) leap in the triple jump. "We need to come together as a team and use this last meet as a stepping stone to the conference meet because with the exception to the conference meet and other postseason meets, this meet is the most important of the year," said Robinson.
Robinson is looking for several athletes to step up to the bell this weekend and push for qualifying standards including pole vault school record holder Whitney Bolton, school record holder in the 400m hurdles Tayanna Simpson, Kristin Sundsteigen, Karmyn Clark and Charlotte Abrahamsen in the throws, and Kyosha Yarbrough in the jumping events.
On the men's side, Robert Jackson's personal best is just shy of the qualifying standard in the 110m hurdles while Aaron Evans looks to break out in the 800m run. Greg Norrid has bounced back from a pectoral tear and is now ready to compete in this final meet before the C-USA Outdoor Championships.
"We need to turn in fast times, big throws and huge jumps in order to obtain good seeds heading into the conference meet so we can compete at the highest level come May 14. We're really excited and expect to see some very positive things happen."
Live results for the meet on Saturday will be available by clicking the link below.
Players Mentioned
