Troy University Athletics
Arukwe Advances at Regionals
5/26/2011 9:32:51 PM | Track & Field
Senior Stanley Arukwe is just one round short of the National Championships
Results :: Results [.pdf]
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. (TroyTrojans.com) - After a rain-soaked practice session, the Troy University track and field program sent three student-athletes into competition on Thursday in the NCAA Division I Outdoor Track and Field Championships East Preliminary Round on the campus of Indiana University.
Senior Stanley Arukwe moved one step closer to the national championships in Des Moines, as he qualified for the 100-meter quarterfinals to be contested on Friday evening. The senior moved through to the next round by finishing third overall in his heat with a time of 10.45 seconds. The time by Arukwe was 15th-fastest time of the day in the six heats.
Arukwe will be running in the third heat on Friday evening, drawing lane seven in the quarterfinals. In that round, the top three times from each heat, along with the next three fastest times, advance through to the national championship on the Drake University campus.
Sophomore Neko Freeman also ran in the 100-meter preliminary round on Thursday, finishing sixth in his heat with a time of 10.63 (10.625) seconds. The time missed the cut off by just 0.09 seconds.
Arukwe recorded the third-fastest time at the school this season, tying the mark he set at the Tiger Track Classic in early April. The time by Freeman tied four his fourth-fastest, and the ninth fastest on the team this season.
Meanwhile, junior Martins Pildavs competed in his first NCAA championship round event, and narrowly missed the cut for the national championships in Des Moines. The junior came in with the fifth best throw in the region, but just couldn't get the big throw he needed as he finished 14th overall with a distance of 67.81 meters (222-06.00). The junior missed the cut by just 0.33 meters (1-01.00), as he finished behind Monmouth's Vincent DeVernois.
"Our student-athletes competed well today," TROY Director of Track and Field/Cross Country Jill Lancaster said. "When you get to this time of year against the toughest competion of the year, it is not about marks and times as much as it is about competing and being consistent.
"Valuable experience was gained today for those who competed and for their teammates who are waiting for their opportunity. Stanley (Arukwe) looked very impressive in the 100, and showed he has opportunity to improve in finals. Neko (Freeman) ran well today, he just missed the finals as he ran in a fast heat. Martins (Pildavs) also threw well, he just missed making the top 12 and just couldn't get that one big throw he needed."
The meet continues on Friday on the campus of Indiana University with Arukwe challenging for a spot at the NCAA Championships in the 100-meters at 6:15 pm. He will also compete in the 200-meters, running the preliminary round at 8 pm.
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