Jefferson and Samuels Punch Tickets to NCAA Championships

SACRAMENTO, Calif. – The Houston Cougars Track & Field program closed out the first day of action at the NCAA West Prelims with two tickets punched to the NCAA Championships.

ABOUT THE NCAA WEST REGION

The NCAA West Regional is a three-day event held on the campus of CSU-Sacramento. The top individuals from the West Region will be in attendance vying for the top-12 spots in each individual event. The regional includes the top-24 relay squads from the West. The top-six relays and the top-12 individual competitors will advance to the NCAA Championships June 5-8 in Austin, Texas.

Watch all the action on FloTrack and live results can be found by clicking HERE.

HOW IT HAPPENED ON THE MEN'S SIDE

Heading into the meet with the top-time in the region in both the 110-meter hurdles and the 400-meter hurdles, Amere Lattin cruised to a first-place finish in his heat to automatically qualify for the quarterfinals of the 400-meter hurdles.

Quivell Jordan joined Lattin in the event, earning a third-place finish in his heat and clinching a spot in the quarterfinals with a time of 51.11.

Punching the first ticket of the weekend to the NCAA Championships was senior Trumaine Jefferson. The senior got things going early for the Cougars after finishing the men's long jump in third-place with a season-best leap of 25-6.75 (7.79) on his second attempt. This marks the second straight season that Jefferson will advance to the NCAA Championships.

Six Cougars will fill out the field in the quarterfinals of the men's 100-meter dash after five men automatically qualified and one qualified by meeting the time standard. Mario Burke led the Cougars, finishing fourth-overall at 10.25 and taking first-place in his heat. Nicholas Alexander took second-place in his heat at 10.30 to advance alongside teammate Edward Sumler IV who took second-place in his heat at 10.36. Brandon Taylor will survive another day after finishing taking third-place in his heat at 10.39 and will be joined by Terence Ware who finished with a qualifying time of 10.42. Taking the final spot in the quarterfinals was Houston junior Travis Collins who took third-place in his heat at 10.45.

In the men's 400-meter dash Kahmari Montgomery and Obi Igbokwe advanced to the quarterfinals in the event after winning each of their heats. Montgomery highlighted the event for the Cougars with a season-best finish of 45.56, finishing second-overall. Igbokwe won his heat and finished in fifth-place overall with a time of 46.08.

HOW IT HAPPENED ON THE WOMEN'S SIDE

Freshman Ashley Seymour will continue her season after taking second-place in her heat of the 100-meter dash and advancing to the quarterfinals with a lifetime-best time of 11.55.

Junior Samiyah Samuels will join Jefferson in the horizontal jumps at the NCAA Championships, after punching her ticket for the second straight season. With a season-best leap of 20-7.75 (6.29) on her third attempt, Samuels clinched a fourth-place finish in the event.

UP NEXT

The Cougars will return to action tomorrow with the men and women's discus at 12 p.m. PT, followed by track events beginning at 4:30 p.m. PT.

FOLLOW THE COUGARS
Fans can keep up with the latest in University of Houston Cougar athletics by following us on Facebook (Facebook.com/HoustonAthletics), Twitter (@UHCougars), Instagram (houstoncougars) and YouTube.com (Youtube.com/UHAthletics). In addition, the Track & Field team has established its own official Facebook (facebook.com/UHCougarTF) and Twitter pages (@UHCougarTF).

SUPPORTING HOUSTON TRACK & FIELD
The Podium Club serves as a unique and effective way to enhance the level of excitement and support for Houston Cougar Track & Field and Cross Country. Gifts to the Podium Club provide financial support directly to the UH Track & Field and Cross Country programs for needs beyond their operating budgets. Donations made to the Podium Club are used at the discretion of the Head Coach.

Houston supporters interested in joining the Podium Club or for more information, please click here.

--UHCougars.com--

Upcoming Events

Recent Results