Pitt Sends 16 Student-Athletes To NCAA East Preliminary Round In Jacksonville

Pitt Sends 16 Student-Athletes To NCAA East Preliminary Round In Jacksonville

5/20/2021 1:34:00 PM | Track & Field

Schedule of Events Declared Athletes - Men Declared Athletes - Women

PITTSBURGH, PA – Fresh off the 2021 ACC Outdoor Championships, the Pittsburgh track & field teams are ready to make some noise at next week's NCAA East Preliminary Round meet, which will be held May 26-29 in Jacksonville, FL at Hodges Stadium on the North Florida campus.

The field of participants was announced on Thursday afternoon by the NCAA Track and Field and Cross Country Committee and the Panthers will be well represented as they had 16 student-athletes qualify in 17 total events along with one relay squad, men's 4x400m. Junior Eddita Pessima (100m Hurdles, 400m Hurdles) and senior Noah Walker (Javelin, Discus, Hammer Throw) qualified in multiple individual events. Both Ade Jones-Roundtree (400m) and Matt Wilson (400m Hurdles) will compete in an individual event and be a part of the 4x400m relay squad for the Panthers.

The Pitt distance squad will be well represented in Jacksonville as the men will send three 3000m steeplechasers to the regional qualifying meet after strong showings at the ACC Outdoor Championships. Josh Higgins, school record holder in the event, leads the way with a time of 8:45.02 which ranks 18^th in the East Region while Zach Lefever and Jack Miller rank 28^th and 33^rd, respectively. On the women's side, Ally Brunton will compete in the 1500m run after setting the school record in the event last weekend (4:16.29). She currently ranks 13^th in the East Region in the 1500m run.

High jumper Greg Lauray will be making his third career appearance in the East Preliminary Round while senior Kollin Smith (long jump) and Lydia Bottelier (high jump) will each be making their first appearance in the meet.

The Panthers' 4x400m quartet of Felix Wolter, Lonzell Feagin, Matt Wilson and Ade Jones-Roundtree secured their spot on the regional meet after a third place finish the ACC Outdoor Championships in 3:07.59.

The four-day NCAA East Preliminary pits the top 48 athletes in 18 individual events, as well as the top 24 teams in each relay, based on top marks recorded over the course of the season. It will begin on Wednesday, May 26 at 1:30 pm in Jacksonville, FL at Hodges Stadium on the North Florida campus and run through Saturday, May 29. The top 12 finishers in each event will move on to the NCAA Championships in Eugene, Oregon, June 9-12.

MEN'S ENTRIES

Ade Jones-Roundtree – 400m (46.18) – 21^st
Nick Wolk – 5000m (13:53.02) – 36^th
Matt Wilson – 400m Hurdles (51.97) – 37^th
Josh Higgins – 3000m Steeplechase (8:45.02) – 18^th
Zach Lefever – 3000m Steeplechase (8:49.94) – 28^th
Jack Miller – 3000m Steeplechase (8:51.00) – 33^rd
Greg Lauray – High Jump (2.10m) – 42^nd
Kollin Smith – Long Jump (7.72m) – 14^th
Noah Walker – Discus (57.32m) – 14^th, Hammer (61.02m) – 39^th, Javelin (64.93m) – 46^th
4x400m relay – Felix Wolter, Lonzell Feagin, Matt Wilson, Ade Jones-Roundtree (3:07.59) – 14^th