Houston Punches Three Tickets to NCAA’s

Wednesday, May 26

College Station, Texas

University of Houston

NCAA West Preliminary Rounds

5/26/2021 10:31:00 PM | Track and Field

Cougars advance to quarterfinal of five events

HOUSTON – The University of Houston Track & Field program punched three tickets to Eugene, Oregon for the 2021 NCAA Outdoor Track & Field Championships on the opening day of action in College Station at the NCAA West Region Prelims.

Action is set to resume tomorrow at 1:30 p.m. as the women open competition.

FULL RESULTS from today can be found by clicking HERE.

Benjamin Okafor was the first Cougar to punch a ticket to the 2021 NCAA Outdoor Track & Field Championships behind a stellar performance in the long jump. Okafor secured a massive personal best in the event on his first jump of the day with a leap of 7.73m (25 – 4 ½). Two of Okafor's three attempts surpassed his previous personal best in the event as he finished eighth in the standings. This will mark his first trip to the NCAA Championships.

The Houston pole vaulters continue to bolster #HTownSpeedCity as Antonio Ruiz and Christyan Sampy secured their spots in Eugene. The duo becomes the first UH pole vaulters since 2014 to qualify for the championships. Ruiz closed out the day in 11^th-place after clearing 5.45m (17- 10 ½) to match his season-best in the event, followed by Sampy in 12^th-place at 5.40m (17-8 ½).

Dayo Akindele and DJ Akindele opened competition on the track for UH, advancing to the quarterfinal of the 110-meter hurdles. Dayo took second in his heat at 13.58 to advance, as DJ finished second in his heat as well with a time of 13.59 to advance.

A quarter of the field will be Cougars in the 100-meter quarterfinal on Friday after six UH sprinters advanced. Shaun Maswanganyi clocked the third-fastest time of the day with a wind-aided 10.05. Travis Collins (10.18), Jordan Booker (10.20) and Christian Hamberlin (10.22) each finished among the top-three in their heat, while Edward Sumler IV (10.24) and Dylan Brown (10.28) advanced on time.

Jermaine Holt and Tyrell Valentine added to the list of Cougar entries on Friday, advancing in the 400-meter. Valentine clocked a personal best time of 46.54 to advance with a qualifying time, as Holt clocked a time of 46.68 to advance behind a third-place finish in his heat.

Quivell Jordan dipped below 50 seconds in the 400-meter hurdles, recording the third-fastest time of the day and winning his heat. He will advance to Friday's quarterfinal to represent the Cougars.

UH again stacked the field in the 200-meter with five competitors advancing. Collins led the pack with a time of 20.51, clocking the fourth fastest time of the day. Hamberlin (20.51), Maswanganyi (20.55), Booker (20.62) and Brown (20.79), also advanced.

Triston Gibbons closed out the day with a 25^th-place finish in the Shot Put with a heave of 18.08m (59-4) and is set to compete in the Discus on Friday. Miles Marhofer represented UH in the Hammer Throw and recorded a series best toss of 52.23 (171-4).

Ben Percefull concluded the pole vault with a clearance of 5.15m (16-10 ¾).

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SUPPORTING HOUSTON TRACK & FIELD AND CROSS COUNTRY
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--