Five Golden Flashes qualified for the 2008 NCAA Division I Outdoor Track and Field Championships with their performances at the final day of competition at the 2008 NCAA Division I Outdoor Track and Field Mid-East Regionals at the University of Arkansas in Fayetteville, Arkansas on Saturday (5/31). Overall, Kent State's men's team finished tied for 13th with 18 points. KSU's women's squad was 25th with nine points.
“We had several athletes step up and have their best performances of the season today,” said head coach Bill Lawson. “They did what they needed to do against the top competition in the region. Now they get the opportunity to show what they can do against the best in the nation.”
Senior Nick Ivancic (Mentor, Ohio/Mentor) punched his ticket for the NCAA Championships when he placed fifth in the men's 400 meter hurdles with his fastest time of season, 51.23 seconds.
Fellow senior Jaroslaw Zakrzewski (Gdansk, Poland) also qualified for the NCAA Championships when he finished seventh in the men's hammer throw with a toss of 209'-1”.
Joining the men in qualifying for the NCAA Championships were a pair of Golden Flashes from Kent State's women's team.
Sophomore Bekah Stoltz (Saugerties, N. Y./ ) finished fourth overall in the women's javelin with her best toss of the season, 158'-11”.
Kent State's final Golden Flash to qualify for the NCAA Championships was junior LeVania Henderson (Westland, Michigan/Livonia Churchill) who placed fifth overall in the women's shot put with her best throw of the season, 53'-7.75”.
In addition to the five Flashes who will compete at the NCAA Championships, Kent State received several strong performances on the final day of competition at the Mid-East Regionals.
Senior John Harper (Cincinnati, Ohio/Moeller) finished seventh in the men's discus with his best throw of outdoor season, 183'-00”. He also placed 30th in the men's hammer throw with a toss of 164'-6”.
Junior Joe Parker (Reynoldsburg, Ohio/Reynoldsburg) finished 12th in the men's 3,000 meter steeplechase with his second-fastest time of season, 9:11.61.
Senior Erik Lindahl (Prophetstown, Ill./Prophetstown) finished 14th in the men's pole vault with his second-highest height of the season, 16'-1.25”.
Sophomore Anthony Connor (Columbus, Ohio/St. Charles Prep) finished 27th in the men's hammer throw with a toss of 175'-9”.
Classmate Matt Pfleger (Garrettsville, Ohio/James A. Garfield) placed 29th in the men's hammer throw with a distance of 171'-5”.
Sophomore Samantha Fetter (Darragh, Pa./Hempfield Area) fouled on all three of her attempts in the women's shot put.
A total of six Golden Flashes will travel to Des Moines, Iowa for the 2008 NCAA Division I Outdoor Track and Field Championships at Drake University from June 11-14. Senior Shamel Smith qualified in the men's high jump on Friday (5/30).
