Bulls Trio Qualifies for Track&Field Champions

[Brad]

Courtesy USF SID Office

Trio Of Bulls Qualify For 2006 NCAA Outdoor Track & Field Championships

GREENSBORO, N.C. (May 29, 2006) --The University of South Florida men's and women's track & field teams will have three representatives at the 2006 NCAA Division I Outdoor Track & Field Championships following regional competition this past weekend.

A trio of Bulls will make the trip to Sacramento, Calif. (June 7-10) for the national meet after strong performances at the 2006 NCAA East Regional, hosted by North Carolina A&T State University.  Senior Jonathan Miller (pole vault), sophomore Errol Blackmon (high jump) and junior Taylar Stallings (discus) of the women's squad all reached NCAA qualifying marks/finishes this season.

Miller finished fifth in the pole vault at regionals, clearing a height of 17-1.  Blackmon claimed third in the high jump on Saturday, managing a top effort of 6-11 (career best).  None of the 24 competitors in the field was able to surpass that mark.  Stallings, the only Bull to qualify for the regional in two events, finished sixth in the discus (162-1).

The top-five finishers in each event move on to the national meet.  Stallings, who was one centimeter out of fifth, advances to the NCAA's because one of the competitors ahead of her will not compete in the discus in Sacramento.

Last season the Bulls sent just one competitor to the NCAA's.

Also competing at the regional meet for USF on the men's side were junior Stephen Gaddis, sophomore Jarrod Hall and senior Patrick Martin.  Gaddis tied for 12th in the pole vault (16-1.25) while Hall clocked a time of 54.15 in his preliminary heat of the 400m hurdles.  Martin also participated in the 400m hurdles, earning fourth in his heat with a time of 51.74.

Stallings also took part in the hammer throw, where she finished ninth following an effort of 182-3.  Junior Megan Malone rounded out the group of USF competitors, earning a share of 16th in the pole vault (12-0).

[80mins]

****! I wish I had known this was going on--I certainly would have gone across town to support my fellow Bulls!