Troy University Athletics
Pair of Trojans Qualify for Nationals
5/31/2009 2:30:00 AM | Track & Field
LOUISVILLE - On the final day of competition at the NCAA Mideast Track and Field Regional, junior Leander McKenzie and senior Agata Cichoszewska were able to clinch automatic spots in the NCAA Outdoor Track and Field Championships next month in Fayetteville.
McKenzie, who went into the finals with the second-fastest time in the prelims in the 110-meter hurdles, came out of the blocks a little shaky according to Jill Lancaster, the Director of Track and Field/Cross Country at Troy.
"Leo came out of the blocks shaky but got back in the race," Lancaster said. "He did good to be able to get himself back into position for an automatic spot in the race."
McKenzie finished fifth overall in the event with a time of 13.93 seconds to edge out Wisconsin's Nate Larkin for the fifth and final automatic spot in the national championships. He finished just 0.01 seconds away from a fourth-place finish, but did earn All-Region honors for his performance.
Meanwhile, Cichoszewska was competing in the regionals for the second consecutive day, but in a different event. After missing a spot at nationals in the long jump on Friday, the senior came back on Saturday in her best event - the triple jump.
She jumped 11.26 meters on her first jump, then on her next two went 12.66 and 12.76 meters to qualify for the finals. She fouled on her first two jumps in the finals before hitting a mark of 12.84 meters (41'1.50") to finish fifth and earn All-Region honors. She beat out Southern Miss' Ashley May by 0.07 meters for the final spot in the national championships. Cichoszewska will join fellow Sun Belt jumper Sarah Nambawa in the championships next month.
"Agata's foot started acting up when we got to the track this morning for the triple jump," Lancaster said.. "Between the prelims and the finals we went to a older shorter jump to make adjustments for her heel. On her last jump she got one of the automatic spots. Now we just have to rehab her heel and get her ready for nationals."
Meanwhile, Tiphanie Baker must sit and wait on other regional results to see if her national ranking will get her a spot at the national championships due to the descending order list. The junior went into nationals ranked 10th in the nation in the discus and there would have to be a few big throws in other regional competition to keep her out of nationals.
"Coach (Chip) Brundage thinks that her ranking will get her in to nationals," Lancaster said. "She came into the competition 10th in the nation and now we just have to play the waiting game."
The Trojans should know news about Baker at the beginning of next week, but until that point have two student-athletes who have qualified for the national outdoor championships in June at the University of Arkansas. It is the second consecutive year that a pair of Trojans have qualified for the event.
