Tulane University
NCAA East Preliminary Round
Outdoor Track & Field’s Applebee, Ortiz Punch Tickets to NCAA National Championships
May 25, 2017 | Men's Track and Field, Women's Track and Field, Track & Field
LEXINGTON, Ky. – Two Tulane competitors punched their tickets to next month's NCAA National Championships to open up the 2017 NCAA East Regional, as both Alyssa Applebee and Daliadiz Ortiz placed within the top six of their respective events to secure their spots at the historic Hayward Field in Eugene, Oregon in June. In addition, both track athletes in Raymond Kibet and Jessica Duckett qualified to the quarterfinals of their races as the Green Wave began their three-day stay in Lexington.
QUOTE
"I'm proud of the way everybody competed today, and I'm especially happy for Dali and Alyssa qualifying for nationals and doing it in a manner that demonstrated they're ready to not only qualify, but to go there and compete well. In addition, we have two track athletes advancing to the next rounds as we expected them to, and Laruschka Joubert came back from a disappointing performance at the conference meet. It was a great day for us and a wonderful way to kick off this meet for our program. We're looking forward to a big second day."
--Director of track & field Eric Peterson
HIGHLIGHTS FROM DAY ONE OF THE NCAA EAST REGIONAL
Tulane's first two national qualifiers of the weekend came in the field, with Alyssa Applebee once again clearing the four-meter bar en route to her second straight nationals berth. In the javelin, Daliadiz Ortiz came up with a mark of 52.28m for fourth overall and her first ever national championship appearance.
In his first ever regional meet, freshman Raymond Kibet continued his dominance in the men's 400m dash, placing third overall and second in his heat to secure a spot in Friday's quarterfinal race. Sophomore Jessica Duckett also ensured a second performance in the women's 400m hurdles, coming in at 22nd overall on a time of 59.82.
The Green Wave also saw strong performances from their remaining three competitors, with Joubert coming up just two places shy of a trip to Eugene on a javelin mark of 46.37m, her second farthest of the year. Tulane's remaining two jumpers posted marks of 3.95m in the pole vault, as Mary Carson Pitts and Rebekah Markel both closed out their seasons in Lexington.
UP NEXT
Friday competition will open up at 3:30 p.m. CT with Duckett in the prelims of the 100m hurdles, followed by Kibet in the second round of the men's 400m dash. Duckett will then run the quarterfinals of the 400m hurdles before Emmanuel Rotich closes out the night in the men's 3,000m steeplechase.
Fans can keep up with the latest in Tulane track & field action by following the team on Twitter, Facebook or Instagram.
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Tulane Results from Day One of the NCAA East Regional
Women's 400m Hurdles Prelims
22. Jessica Duckett, 59.82
Women's Javelin
4. Daliadiz Ortiz, 52.28 (171-06)
14. Laruschka Joubert, 46.37 (152-01)
Women's Pole Vault
6. Alyssa Applebee, 4.20m (13-9.25)
18. Mary Carson Pitts, 3.95m (12-11.25)
25. Rebekah Markel, 3.95m (12-11.25)
Men's 400m Prelims
3. Raymond Kibet, 46.16
Players Mentioned
