Ready to take their place on track and field's biggest stage at NCAA Championships

KENT, Ohio – They're the future of Kent State's track and field program, but their time is now. They come from as far as France and Jamaica, and just down the road in Solon and Youngstown, but beginning Wednesday (June 5) through Saturday (June 8), they'll call Eugene, Ore. home.

That's where the spectacle of the NCAA Division I Outdoor Track and Field Championships will unfold. When freshmen Dior Delophont, Danniel Thomas and Reggie Jagers, and sophomore Matthias Tayala step onto the University of Oregon's Hayward Field, the centerpiece of "Track Town, USA," they'll do so with All-American dreams in mind.

Standing on the podium at track and field's most famous venue would be a crowning achievement, but, with the nation's premier student-athletes competing, the young quartet of Golden Flashes know its work is just beginning.

"We're thrilled to have Dior, Danniel, Reggie and Matthias representing Kent State at nationals," said Bill Lawson, Kent State's director of track and field and cross country. "You never take anything for granted at this level, but we have confidence in these kids. They're going to have to bring their 'A' game for sure, but they'll be okay if they just continue doing what they've been doing all season."

The top eight finishers in each event in Eugene earn First Team All-American honors, with places nine through 16 garnering Second Team accolades. Each event boasts the top 24 student-athletes/relay teams in the nation, half the field that competed in each event May 23-25 at the NCAA East and West Prelims, respectively. The top 12 finishers in each event from the East and West qualified to Eugene.

Here's a closer look at Kent State's Fantastic Four:

Dior Delophont (Fr.) – NCAA Outdoor Qualifier in High Jump and Triple Jump

*Native of Nancy, France, about 90 minutes outside of Paris

*Heavily recruited after placing fifth in the high jump at 6 feet, 1 inch at the International Association of Athletics Federation's (IAAF) World Junior Championships in Barcelona, Spain, but chose Kent State to major in fashion merchandising

*Has 4.0 grade point average

*All-American in both the high jump and triple jump during the Indoor season

*Won Mid-American Conference Outdoor high jump and triple jump titles for fourth and fifth MAC championships between Indoor and Outdoor seasons

*MAC Outdoor Women's MVP (scored 26 points in three events as women's team won fourth-straight MAC Outdoor title with a 50-point margin of victory)

*Second in the high jump at the East Prelims at 5-11.25 and 11th in the triple jump at 41-7

*6-0 high jump May 3-4 at the Campbell/Wright Open is ranked 12th nationally

*Mentored by Kent State jumps coach and Australian native Phil Rickaby, a former four-time MAC champ (three-time javelin, one-time triple jump)

Quotable:

"I was prepared to adjust to my new surroundings. Kent State was the place I wanted to be, so it wasn't too hard making things work. Ideally, it'd be great to be an All-American in both events like the Indoor season, but I just want to go out and do my best." – Delophont

"Dior competes like a veteran. She has global experience and knows what it's like to be an All-American. Dior has unbelievable passion for what she does. She doesn't take anything for granted and knows she has to bring her 'A' game in Eugene." – Lawson

Danniel Thomas (Fr.) – NCAA Outdoor Qualifier in Discus and Shot Put

*Native of Shrewsbury, Jamaica, an island country in the Caribbean Sea

*Fourth in shot put and second in discus at MAC Outdoor championships (scored 14 points to help women win fourth-straight Outdoor title by 50 points)

*Discus throw of 172-8 at MAC championships is ranked 37th nationally

*Posted shot put mark of 51-2.75 at Penn Relays April 25-27 to rank 60th nationally

*Placed eighth at East Prelims in discus at 166-0 (rebounded from fouling on first two attempts to advance)

*Finished seventh at East Prelims in shot put at 52-10

*Majoring in physical education and hopes to become college professor

*Mentored by Kent State throws coach and former four-time MAC discus champ Nathan Fanger

Quotable:

"Kent State is a great place to be with a lot of friendly people. I've adjusted well to my new surroundings. Several schools were recruiting me, but Kent State was where I wanted to be. I wanted to help put Kent State on the map as a track and field school." – Thomas

"Danniel is a warrior. She's a fighter. Danniel isn't big in stature, but she's quick, explosive and highly technical. She has a great opportunity to do well in Eugene." – Lawson

Reggie Jagers (Fr.) – NCAA Outdoor Qualifier in Discus

*Native of Solon, Ohio, in suburban Cleveland

*Placed third in the discus at 168-1 at MAC championships

*Discus throw of 183-8 at Northeast Ohio Quad April 5-6 is ranked 42nd nationally

*Placed ninth at East Prelims with discus toss of 182-3 after entering meet seeded 20th

*Started throwing during junior year at Solon High School, but placed fifth at the Ohio High School Athletic Association (OHSAA) Division I state meet as a senior

*Standout three-year starter at linebacker for Solon, a perennial Division I high school football power

* Mentored by Coach Fanger

Quotable:

"It feels great to qualify to nationals as a freshman. I'm looking to throw big, but it comes down to getting it done when it counts. I'm learning something new each time I compete. I've got to approach this like a normal meet and do the things I know I can." – Jagers

"We knew Reggie had great athletic ability coming in. Coach Fanger always said Reggie would be a force to be reckoned with. I think we saw that at [the East Prelims]. We feel good about what he can do going forward." – Lawson

Matthias Tayala (Soph.) – NCAA Outdoor Qualifier in Hammer Throw

*Native of McDonald, Ohio, just outside Youngstown

*MAC champion in the hammer throw at 215-6 and runner-up in the discus at 176-10

*Placed 11th in the hammer throw at East Prelims at 204-9 (also finished 17th^h in the discus at 172-5)

*Won hammer throw title April 25-27 at prestigious Penn Relays with a toss of 217-9, which is ranked 10th nationally

*Ranked 36th nationally in discus after 185-7 at Campbell/Wright Open May 3-4

*Two-time MAC Outdoor Field Athlete of the Week

*Runner-up in hammer throw at 2012 IAAF World Junior Championships in Barcelona

*Three-sport standout at McDonald High School in football, basketball and track

*All-Ohio quarterback and center in football and basketball, respectively

*OHSAA Division III state champ in discus and shot put (winning discus throw of 196-3 set state record and was 30 feet better than runner-up)

*Avid weightlifter can squat more than 500 pounds and bench press more than 300 pounds

*Mentored by Coach Fanger

Quotable:

"There were a lot of options out there, but Kent State was the best fit for me. It was close to home, plus [Fanger] is a great coach and he was a great athlete at Kent State. He really made a difference in me coming here. Qualifying is a big step, but my goal at nationals is to be an All-American. " – Tayala

"Matthias has the ability to be an All-American and we know that's his goal. Kent State's always been a good throwing school and having Matthias just adds to that. He's a tremendous talent. We're really looking forward to seeing what Matthias does in Eugene. " – Lawson

2013 NCAA Outdoor Track and Field Schedule for Kent State (***Times listed are Pacific Time Zone)

1:30 p.m. Thursday, June 6 – Men's Hammer Throw, Trials/Finals

2:00 p.m. Thursday, June 6 – Women's Discus Throw, Trials/Finals

3:25 p.m. Friday, June 7 – Women's Triple Jump, Trials/Finals

4:00 p.m. Friday, June 7 – Men's Discus Throw, Trials/Finals

12:45 p.m. Saturday, June 8 – Women's High Jump, Trials/Finals

1:00 p.m. Saturday, June 8 – Women's Shot Put, Trials/Finals

Additional NCAA Championships links:

Kent State University Athletics

Ready to take their place on track and field's biggest stage at NCAA Championships

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