May 26, 2006
Track and Field
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

ISU THROWERS NARROWLY MISS AUTOMATIC MARKS ON DAY ONE OF NCAA REGIONALS

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – Day one of the NCAA Mideast Regional Track and Field Championships concluded Friday with several Sycamores participating in the action. Indiana State athletes competed in eight events over the course of the day on the track and in throwing and jumping events.

Seniors Jason Carruthers and Charlie Sparks narrowly missed a top-five finish that would have granted them an automatic berth at the NCAA Championships by placing seventh and sixth in their respective events.

Carruthers distance of 197 feet 7 inches in the hammer was a mere five feet out of fifth place while Sparks throw of 180 feet 10 inches missed an automatic berth by less than three feet. Each athlete will now wait to see if their mark will qualify for an at-large berth at the NCAA Championships in Sacramento, beginning June 7.

Other results from the first day of competition included 16th-place finishes on the track and Sean Wright (47.10) and Jerry Clopton (21.21) in the 400-meter and 200-meter, respectively. Paladin Jordan finished 13th in the men’s 400-meter hurdles, crossing the line at 52.49 in the final track results for the men on the day.

For the Sycamores in the field events, Santia Spight’s jump of 5 feet 7.25 inches tied the junior for 12th place. Hanif Muhammed bound of 23 feet 9.5 inches put the senior in 21st place in the long jump while fellow jumper Janae Bridges’ jump of 19 feet 9.5 inches landed in 11th place.

Senior Drew Traub competed in the first of two events with a 19th-place finish in the discus with a mark of 166 feet 6 inches and will look to improve on his placing the shot put tomorrow.

Traub will be joined on the second day with Melissa Ullenbruch (pole vault), Paladin Jordan and Yolanda Wright (triple jump) and Jordan Fife (3,000-meter steeplechase).