Photo by: (Andrew Richardson/American Athletic Conference)
Seven Track & Field Athletes Qualify for NCAA East Regional
May 17, 2018 | Men's Track and Field, Women's Track and Field, Track & Field
Women's Qualified List | Men's Qualified List | Meet Live Results | Meet Schedule
NEW ORLEANS – Seven Tulane track and field athletes qualified for eight spots in the NCAA East Regional, the NCAA announced Thursday afternoon. Five women and two men will be representing the Green Wave with a chance for a national championship berth on the line.
The regional will take place May 24-26 at USF Track & Field Stadium in Tampa, Florida.
To qualify for the regional, Tulane's athletes needed to rank in the top 48 in each event among all declared competitors in the east region. At the regional, a top-12 finish will send them to the NCAA Outdoor Championship in Eugene, Oregon, from June 6-9.
"We came away from the conference championship feeling good about a lot of performances, but especially those of these seven athletes," said Eric Peterson, Tulane's Director of Cross Country and Track & Field. "We have a good mixture of people who have been there before and people who are aspiring to get to that level."
On the women's side, junior Jessica Duckett led the way with two event qualifications. Her 100-meter hurdles time of 13.02 seconds at the American Outdoor Championship last week put her 10th in the east regional and set a new school record in the process. Duckett also qualified ninth for the east regional's 400-meter hurdles with a time of 57.63 at The American championship. This marks Duckett's third appearance for the Green Wave at the regional meet, and she reached the national championship in the 400 hurdles last year.
Duckett will be joined in the 100-meter hurdles by sophomore Brandi Hughes and freshman Kyah Loyd, both making their first appearances at the regionals. Hughes' and Loyd's top time this year of 13.45 seconds – both run at The American Championship as well – put them 40th and 41st in the east region.
In the field events, Rebekah Markel will be heading to Tampa to compete in the pole vault. The junior cleared a height of 4.11 meters (13' 5 3/4") at The American Championship last week, earning her the 22nd spot in the east region. This will be Markel's second consecutive season at the east regional.
In the hammer, Jackie Esmay's throw of 58.27 meters (191' 2") at The American Championship got her a spot in the regional as well. Her previous best on the year of 56.72 would not have been enough, but her new personal best at the conference championship meet bumped her up to 43rd in the east and allowed the senior to continue her career in the Sunshine State next week. This will be her first career regional, and she will be Tulane's first hammer representative at the regional since 2009 (Katarina Busljeta).
"Jackie, Kyah and Brandi all had to perform the way they did at the conference championship in order to earn these regional berths, Peterson said. "They were on the outside looking in before the championship, and it's a tribute to them and how committed they are to getting better and really representing us at the highest level to get that done."
For the men, junior Emmanuel Rotich was the east's top steeplechaser during the regular season. His mark of 8:40.46 at the Payton Jordan Invitational was nearly two seconds faster than the next-best athlete in the east. Rotich is no stranger to the regional round, as he has reached it – and the national championship – last year.
Finally, Raymond Kibet will be racing in Tampa as well. His 400-meter time of 46.59 from the Houston Alumni Invitational was 27th among declared athletes in the east region. Kibet will be making his second consecutive 400-meter appearance next week and will be looking to make his second straight national championship showing as well.
"[Rotich, Kibet and Duckett] will be a great example for the younger and less-experienced kids who will be there for the first time," Peterson said.
Action in Tampa for the Green Wave will begin on May 24 at 3 p.m. central when Duckett races in the 400-meter hurdles first round.
Tulane's NCAA East Regional Qualifiers
Women's 100 hurdles
10. Jessica Duckett, junior, 13.02 seconds
40. Brandi Hughes, sophomore, 13.45
41. Kyah Loyd, freshman, 13.45
Women's 400 hurdles
9. Jessica Duckett, junior, 57.63 seconds
Women's pole vault
22. Rebekah Markel, junior, 4.11 meters
Women's hammer throw
43. Jacqueline Esmay, senior, 58.27 meters
Men's 3K steeplechase
1. Emmanuel Rotich, junior, 8:40.66
Men's 400 meters
27. Raymond Kibet, sophomore, 46.59 seconds
NEW ORLEANS – Seven Tulane track and field athletes qualified for eight spots in the NCAA East Regional, the NCAA announced Thursday afternoon. Five women and two men will be representing the Green Wave with a chance for a national championship berth on the line.
The regional will take place May 24-26 at USF Track & Field Stadium in Tampa, Florida.
To qualify for the regional, Tulane's athletes needed to rank in the top 48 in each event among all declared competitors in the east region. At the regional, a top-12 finish will send them to the NCAA Outdoor Championship in Eugene, Oregon, from June 6-9.
"We came away from the conference championship feeling good about a lot of performances, but especially those of these seven athletes," said Eric Peterson, Tulane's Director of Cross Country and Track & Field. "We have a good mixture of people who have been there before and people who are aspiring to get to that level."
On the women's side, junior Jessica Duckett led the way with two event qualifications. Her 100-meter hurdles time of 13.02 seconds at the American Outdoor Championship last week put her 10th in the east regional and set a new school record in the process. Duckett also qualified ninth for the east regional's 400-meter hurdles with a time of 57.63 at The American championship. This marks Duckett's third appearance for the Green Wave at the regional meet, and she reached the national championship in the 400 hurdles last year.
Duckett will be joined in the 100-meter hurdles by sophomore Brandi Hughes and freshman Kyah Loyd, both making their first appearances at the regionals. Hughes' and Loyd's top time this year of 13.45 seconds – both run at The American Championship as well – put them 40th and 41st in the east region.
In the field events, Rebekah Markel will be heading to Tampa to compete in the pole vault. The junior cleared a height of 4.11 meters (13' 5 3/4") at The American Championship last week, earning her the 22nd spot in the east region. This will be Markel's second consecutive season at the east regional.
In the hammer, Jackie Esmay's throw of 58.27 meters (191' 2") at The American Championship got her a spot in the regional as well. Her previous best on the year of 56.72 would not have been enough, but her new personal best at the conference championship meet bumped her up to 43rd in the east and allowed the senior to continue her career in the Sunshine State next week. This will be her first career regional, and she will be Tulane's first hammer representative at the regional since 2009 (Katarina Busljeta).
"Jackie, Kyah and Brandi all had to perform the way they did at the conference championship in order to earn these regional berths, Peterson said. "They were on the outside looking in before the championship, and it's a tribute to them and how committed they are to getting better and really representing us at the highest level to get that done."
For the men, junior Emmanuel Rotich was the east's top steeplechaser during the regular season. His mark of 8:40.46 at the Payton Jordan Invitational was nearly two seconds faster than the next-best athlete in the east. Rotich is no stranger to the regional round, as he has reached it – and the national championship – last year.
Finally, Raymond Kibet will be racing in Tampa as well. His 400-meter time of 46.59 from the Houston Alumni Invitational was 27th among declared athletes in the east region. Kibet will be making his second consecutive 400-meter appearance next week and will be looking to make his second straight national championship showing as well.
"[Rotich, Kibet and Duckett] will be a great example for the younger and less-experienced kids who will be there for the first time," Peterson said.
Action in Tampa for the Green Wave will begin on May 24 at 3 p.m. central when Duckett races in the 400-meter hurdles first round.
Tulane's NCAA East Regional Qualifiers
Women's 100 hurdles
10. Jessica Duckett, junior, 13.02 seconds
40. Brandi Hughes, sophomore, 13.45
41. Kyah Loyd, freshman, 13.45
Women's 400 hurdles
9. Jessica Duckett, junior, 57.63 seconds
Women's pole vault
22. Rebekah Markel, junior, 4.11 meters
Women's hammer throw
43. Jacqueline Esmay, senior, 58.27 meters
Men's 3K steeplechase
1. Emmanuel Rotich, junior, 8:40.66
Men's 400 meters
27. Raymond Kibet, sophomore, 46.59 seconds
Players Mentioned
Sprints/Hurdles
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Throws
/ Track & Field
Sprints/Hurdles
/ Track & Field
Sprints/Hurdles
/ Track & Field
Sprints
/ Track & Field
Pole Vault
/ Track & Field
Distance
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