Track and Field Sends 18 to NCAA Midwest Regional

5/29/2008 12:00:00 AM | Track and Field

May 29, 2008

HOUSTON -- The University of Houston track and field team returns to action this weekend as the Cougars head off to compete in the 2008 NCAA Midwest Regional on May 30-31 at Ed Weir Stadium in Lincoln, Neb.

The Cougars will be represented by 18 student-athletes at the two-day meet. Each have met the regional qualifications during the outdoor season to advance to the post-season event.

Competition will begin at 1 p.m. on Friday with the women's hammer throw and men's high jump. Prelims in the running events are slated to start at 1:30 p.m. with the women's and men's 4X100-meter relay.

Runners who qualify in the prelims on Friday will compete in the finals on Saturday, beginning with the men's and women's 4X100-meter relays at 4:00 p.m. Saturday also will feature the conclusion of the field events beginning at 1 p.m. with the men's hammer throw and women's high jump.

Competing for the men are senior Tremaine Smith (100m, 200m), freshman Tyrone Carrier (100m, 200m), sophomore Jason Perez (400m hurdles), freshman Derek Schutz,(pole vault) sophomore Alex Bentley (pole vault), freshman Ed Turner (long jump), freshman Chris Carter (triple jump), sophomore Brandon Hubbard (discus) and freshman William Krokey (hammer).

Competing for the women are sophomore Quin'shundolyn McPherson (200m, long jump), freshman Kalyn Floyd (200m), junior Seun Adigun (100m hurdles), junior Dayo Ogunniyi (long jump), senior Caresir Hamilton (triple jump), freshman Kiara Pulliam (shot put), sophomore Ashley Bryant (discus), freshman Charlissa Foster (discus) and sophomore Brittani Williams (javelin).

At the Regional the top five finishers in each event will automatically qualify for the 2008 NCAA Championships in Des Moines, Iowa. There are four Regional sites making a total of 20 qualifiers with the possibility of five to eight at-large bids.

The 10,000 meters, heptathlon and decathlon have automatic and provisional marks for the NCAA Championships. Automatic qualifiers will make the Championships leaving at-large bids available to athletes with provisional marks.

Last season at the NCAA Midwest Regional in Des Moines, Iowa, the women's team finished in ninth place with 23 points, while the men finished in 28th with five team points.

The University of Nebraska will provide a free video feed of all the action at the meet. Fans are urged to log on to Huskers.com to find out more information.

Fans also can follow live results from the meet by clicking HERE

As always a full recap of all of the competition from each day can be found at UHCougars.com

Following the meet, athletes who qualify for the NCAA Championships will have two weeks to prepare for the meet which will be held June 11-14 in Des Moines, Iowa.