Jurlina Qualifies for Nationals in Second Event

Friday, May 28

Baton Rouge, La.

All Day

Tulane University

NCAA Regional Championships

Jelena Jurlina qualified for Nationals in the javelin on Saturday, adding to her discus qualifying on Friday. [File photo by Ned Dishman]

Jurlina Qualifies for Nationals in Second Event

May 29, 2004 | Track & Field

May 29, 2004

BATON ROUGE, La. - Tulane junior Jelena Jurlina qualified for the NCAA National Championships in her second event as she finished third in the javelin throw at the NCAA Mideast Regional Track and Field Championships at LSU's Bernie Moore Stadium on Saturday afternoon.

The junior from Croatia recorded a throw of 156 feet, three inches on Saturday to qualify for the National Championships in the javelin for the second year in a row. Last year she also placed third at the regionals, advancing and finishing in 10th place at the national championships.

"She was not as sound technically as she usually is, but she still did really well," Tulane coach Heather Van Norman said. "To come up with two third-place finishes is great. She felt like she was off a little bit today but she still finished third. Now she has two weeks to get ready for two events."

On Friday, Jurlina shattered her own school record in the discus to qualify for nationals in that event. She recorded a distance of 181 feet, three inches, beating her previous best of 163 feet by over 18 feet. The NCAA National Championships will be held June 9-12 in Austin, Texas.

Also in action on Saturday was junior Helmi Leppanen in the shot put. The native of Finland had a throw of 48 feet, two and a half inches to finish in 13th place. The top five finishers in each event advance to nationals.

Tulane Finishers
Javelin (Saturday)
Jelena Jurlina, 47.62m, 156-03 (3rd place) - Advances to nationals

Shot Put (Saturday)
Helmi Leppanen, 14.69m, 48-02.50 (13th place)

Discus (Friday)
Jelena Jurlina, 55.27m, 181-03 (4th place) - Advances to nationals

Long Jump (Friday)
Lissie Mo, 6.15m (6th place)
Marilyn Sauls, 5.93m (12th place)

100 Meters (Friday)
Gloria Asumnu, 11.72 (14th place)