By: By Hunter McKay
Outdoor Meet 11: Kennesaw State at 2023 NCAA East Preliminary Championships
Date: Wednesday, May 24 - Saturday, May 27
Location: Visit Jax Track at Hodges Stadium | Jacksonville, Florida
Links: Live Results | Meet Schedule |
Tickets
Live Video: Wednesday | Thursday |
Friday |
Saturday
Social Media: Twitter | Facebook
Starting Blocks
The Kennesaw State track and field teams will be well represented with a program-high 17 athletes competing in 14 events at the 2023 NCAA Division I Outdoor Track & Field Championships. The University of North Florida will play host to the NCAA Championships East Preliminary Rounds from May 24-27 in Jacksonville. The men will compete on May 24 and May 26 while the women compete on May 25 and May 27. Athletes who rank among the top 48 in their respective event earn berths into the NCAA Championships. The best 24 relay times also advanced to NCAA Championships. Athletes with the top 12 times/marks and the best 12 relay teams at both the East and West preliminaries will advance for the semifinals/finals of the NCAA Championships in Austin, Texas, June 7-10. There is no decathlon or heptathlon competition at this part of the NCAA Championships. The top 24 decathlon and heptathlon marks in the nation earn an automatic berth to the finals of the NCAA Championships.
NCAA East Regional Event Preview Capsules (By Gender)
Men's Hammer
Event Schedule: First Round – Wednesday at 10 a.m.
KSU Competitor: Isaiah Rogers
Entry Mark/Seed: 71.90m (235'11")/No. 5
Outlook:
The national champion in the weight throw will open action for the Owls in Jacksonville on Wednesday morning. Rogers won the hammer throw at the ASUN Championships with a season-best toss of 71.90m (235'11"). He also finished fifth at the Drake Relays as the only collegiate athlete in the top hammer throw flight. He will try to become the first Kennesaw State men's hammer thrower to reach the NCAA Division I Outdoor Track & Field Championships since Daniel Haugh in 2019. Haugh won the national championship in 2019.
Men's Shot Put
Event Schedule: First Round – Wednesday at 6 p.m.
KSU Competitors:
Courtney Lawrence,
Tyler Blalock and
Isaiah Rogers
Entry Mark/Seed: Lawrence | 19.54m (64'1.25") / No. 8, Blalock | 19.00m (62'4")/ No. 14 and Rogers | 18.52m (60'9.25") /No. 21
Outlook:
This event will feature the most Owls of any event at the NCAA East Regionals. KSU enters with three athletes seeded in the top 21. Lawrence won the ASUN title, established a new school record and set a conference championship record with his toss of 19.54m in Jacksonville two weeks ago. Blalock's mark came early in the outdoor season while Rogers came at the ASUN Championships. Blalock will make his third appearance and Lawrence will make his second in this event. The Owls trio will be joined by Liberty's Kevin Nedrick in the event. Josh McNair (2011) and Liberty's Kyle Mitchell (2021) are the only two athletes from the ASUN to have reached the NCAA finals in shot put.
Men's Long Jump
Event Schedule: First Round – Wednesday at 6 p.m.
KSU Competitor: Kaelen Mitchell
Entry Mark/Seed: 7.59m (24'11")/No. 32
Outlook:
Mitchell will be making his debut at NCAA East Regionals in the long jump. He will need a big mark to become the first Owl to reach the NCAA finals in the long jump since Andre Dorsey in 2016.
Men's Pole Vault
Event Schedule: First Round – Wednesday at 6:30 p.m.
KSU Competitors: AJ Johnson and
Simon Seid
Entry Mark/Seed: Johnson | 5.25m (17'2.75") No. 28 / Seid | 5.18m (17'0") No. 34
Outlook:
Johnson and Seid have quickly emerged as two of the top pole vaulters in program history. The duo combined to post five of the top 10 marks in program history this season. Johnson won the gold medal at both ASUN Championships in 2021 while Seid won the gold medal at both championships in 2022. Kennesaw State's
Jack Rhea is the only athlete in ASUN history to reach the NCAA finals in the pole vault.
Men's 400m
Event Schedule: First Round – Wednesday at 7:25 p.m. | Quarterfinals – Friday at 6:50 p.m.
KSU Competitor: Malik Hussie
Entry Mark/Seed: 46.72 seconds/No. 41
Outlook:
Hussie will be the only men's athlete to represent KSU on the track at East Regionals. He won the 400m in a personal-best time of 46.72 seconds at the ASUN Championships. That time established a new program record in the event. Hussie will look to become the first Owl and third member of the ASUN Conference to reach the NCAA finals.
Men's Discus Throw
Event Schedule: First Round – Friday at 1 p.m.
KSU Competitor: Anthony Harrison
Entry Mark/Seed: 59.25m (194'5")/No.11
Outlook:
Harrison had three of the five longest throws in program history at the ASUN Championship. His winning mark of 59.25m (194'5") set a new KSU school record and ASUN Championship record. Three of Harrison's top He will be joined in the field by Liberty's Kevin Nedrick. The two went toe-to-toe in Jacksonville at the ASUN Championship with Harrison taking the title on his final throw. Harrison is vying to become the fist Owl to qualify for the discus finals at the NCAA Championships.
Men's High Jump
Event Schedule: First Round – Friday at 2:30 p.m.
KSU Competitors: Juan Cavazos II and
Sultan Simms
Entry Mark/Seed: Cavazos | 2.15m (7'0.5") / Simms | 2.13m (6'11'5")
Outlook:
Cavazos and Simms posted five of the top 10 marks in program history this season. Cavazos took home the gold medal at the ASUN Championship clearing 2.15m (7'0.5"). That mark ranks tied for third in school history. KSU had Jerome Mckenzie (2010) and Andre Dorsey (2016) reach the finals of this event.
Men's Triple Jump
Event Schedule: First Round – Friday at 6 p.m.
KSU Competitor: Kelvin Campbell
Entry Mark/Seed: 15.88m (52'1.25")/No. 13
Outlook:
Campbell landed a personal-best mark of 15.88m (52'1.25") to win the gold medal at the ASUN Championship. That mark established a new conference championship record and ranks third in program history. The field for this event features three of the top five finishers in the triple jump from the NCAA Indoor Championships. Should Campbell advance he would be the second Owl and fourth different person from an ASUN program to reach the finals.
Women
Women's Hammer
Event Schedule: First Round – Thursday at 10 a.m.
KSU Competitor: Kali Terza
Entry Mark/Seed: 64.33m (211'1")/No. 12
Outlook:
Terza rewrote the school record book in the hammer throw in 2023. In March, she made history becoming the first Owl with a throw over 60m. She then went on to record 13 throws over 60m including a toss of 64.33m (211'1") to establish a new school record at the UNF East Coast Relays. She won the gold medal at the ASUN Championship establishing a new conference record with a toss of 61.02m (200'2"). Should Terza advance she would be the first Owl and first person from an ASUN institution to reach the finals.
Women's Javelin
Event Schedule: First Round – Thursday at 1 p.m.
KSU Competitor: Kaylee Clark
Entry Mark/Seed: 49.13m (161'2")/No. 17
Outlook:
Clark had an impressive first season in an Owl uniform. The freshman won the javelin at four meets this season. She also finished 14
th in the top javelin flight at the Texas Relays. She won the gold medal at the ASUN Championship with a mark of 45.54m (149'5"). Clark will aim to become the first women's javelin thrower in school history to reach the finals.
Women's 100m Hurdles
Event Schedule: First Round – Thursday at 6 p.m. | Quarterfinals – Saturday at 6:15 p.m.
KSU Competitor: Corbin McLean
Entry Mark/Seed: 13.21 seconds /No.21
Outlook:
McLean will get the Owls going on the track on Thursday evening. She ran strong in the 100m hurdles all season. She posted her qualifying time of 13.21 seconds in Jacksonville at UNF East Coast Relays in April. McLean would be the first KSU women to qualify for 100m hurdles final should she advance to Austin.
Women's 1500m
Event Schedule: First Round – Thursday at 6:30 p.m. | Quarterfinals – Saturday at 5:15 p.m.
KSU Competitor: Caroline Timm
Entry Mark/Seed: 4:16.18/No. 23
Outlook:
Timm is coming off a pair of third-place finishes in the 800m and 1500m at the ASUN Championship. She will be in a talented field that includes North Carolina State's Caroline Touhy who is a four-time national champion in cross country and track and field.
Women's 800m
Event Schedule: First Round – Thursday at 7:50 p.m. | Quarterfinals – Saturday at 7:05 p.m.
KSU Competitor: Sarah Hendrick
Entry Mark/Seed: 2:01.93/No. 4
Outlook:
Hendrick is making her fourth appearance at NCAA East Regionals. She is fresh off a pair of wins in the 800m and 1500m at the ASUN Championship. She has reached the 800m final in five consecutive NCAA Championships and will look to make it six. She is the only athlete in NCAA history to earn First Team All-America honors in five consecutive 800m finals at the NCAA Championships.
Women's Triple Jump
Event Schedule: First Round – Saturday at 6 p.m.
KSU Competitor: Tayla Morleand
Entry Mark/Seed: 12.62m (41'5")/No. 48
Outlook:
Moreland has only competed in the triple jump three times this season. In those three competitions, she finished first, fifth and second. She had her best jump of 12.62m (41'5") at the UNF East Coast Relays. She finished runner-up at the ASUN Championships with a mark of 12.42m (40'9") in the triple jump.
Keep up with Owls track and field teams by following KSU on Twitter at
@KSUOwlNation and
@KSUTrackFieldXC, on Instagram
@ksuowlstrackxc or by liking Kennesaw State Owls on
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