Delophont is third national qualifier for Flashes on Day 2 of NCAA East Prelims
5/24/2013 12:00:00 AM | Track and Field, Men's Track & Field, Women's Track & Field
GREENSBORO, N.C. – Youth continued to shine for Kent State today (May 24) on Day 2 of the Division I Outdoor Track and Field East Preliminaries at North Carolina A&T State University's Irwin Belk Track.
Freshman Dior Delophont (Nancy, France) earned Kent State's third ticket to the NCAA Division I Outdoor Track and Field Championships June 5-8 in Eugene, Ore. after leaping 5 feet, 11.25 inches to tie for second in the women's high jump and earn one of the 12 national qualifying spots. Delophont needed to clear the height, which proved to be the qualifying standard, to secure a trip to Eugene.
"Dior's been great all season," said Bill Lawson, Kent State's director of track and field and cross country. "She did a great job with her back against the wall to advance to Eugene."
Delophont will travel to the northwest with fellow freshmen Reggie Jagers (Cleveland, Ohio) and Danniel Thomas (Shrewsbery, Jamaica), who both qualified yesterday (May 23) in the men's and women's discus, respectively.
The best may be still to come for Delophont, who will compete on the final day tomorrow (May 25) in the triple jump. Delophont was the Mid-American Conference Outdoor champ in both the high jump and triple jump, and an All-American in both during the Indoor season.
Thomas also returns tomorrow to compete in the shot put.
The Golden Flashes are in position to make the final day a memorable one with several other standouts competing including sophomore Matthias Tayala (McDonald, Ohio) who will be in his best event, the hammer throw. Add senior Sara Oczypok (Pittsburgh, Pa) and junior C.J. Carlisle (Garrettsville, Ohio) in the javelin; junior Joh'vonnie Mosley (Youngstown, Ohio) in the shot put; and freshman Cody Jones (Canton, Ohio) in the high jump and more tickets to Eugene could be on the way.
"Saturday should be a big day for us," Lawson said. "We've got a lot of talented kids going out there so we're excited about the possibilities."
Day 2 of the East Prelims also marked the close to a successful season for a handful of Flashes.
Sophomore Miles Dunlap (McDonald, Ohio), who ran a personal-best 52.14 seconds in the 400-meter hurdle prelims on Day 1, finished 24th overall in 54.32.
Junior Shanequa Williams (Akron, Ohio) broke her own Kent State record in the 400 prelims on Day 1 in 53.53, but missed a spot in the top 12 and a trip to Eugene with a 54.66 in the finals. Williams also placed 42nd in the 200 in 24.52.
2012 NCAA qualifier and sophomore Jackie Leppelmeier (McComb, Ohio), the Kent State record holder in the hammer throw at 199-5, narrowly missed a return trip to nationals with a 16th-place finish at 183-5.
Senior Brian Florek (Matawan, N.J.), the MAC javelin champ, closed a strong season with an 18th-place toss of 216-2.
Rounding out the Day 2 competitors were sophomore Ann Marie Duffus (North Clarendon, Jamaica), 37th in the 100 hurdles at 13.74; freshman Wayne Gordon (Amherst, N.Y.), 43rd in the 200 at 21.71; freshman Michael King (Salem, Ohio), 36th in the shot put at 53-4.25; and senior Domenica Rossi (Middleburg Heights, Ohio) in the pole vault.
"I'm really proud of all the kids who competed out here," Lawson noted. "Sometimes it's just not meant to be, but they all did a great job this year and we as coaches couldn't be more proud of them. Congratulations to all the kids on a fine season."
Day 3 begins at 10 a.m. Saturday with the men's hammer throw. Track events start at 6 p.m. with the women's 4x100 relay. Click here for the full schedule of events.
