Track: USF Athletes to Compete at NCAA Regional

[Brad]

Courtesy USF

USF MEN’S TRACK & FIELD

Three USF Jumpers Set To Compete At NCAA East Regional Meet This Weekend

GAINESVILLE, Fla. (May 24, 2007) – The NCAA East Regional meet, set to take place on Fri., May 25 – Sat., May 26 from James G. Pressly Stadium at Percy Beard Track on the campus of the University of Florida, will feature junior Errol Blackmon and freshman Michael Kursteiner in the high jump and freshman Mikese Morse in the long jump.  

The three members of the University of South Florida men’s track & field team will join hundreds of the nation's top track and field athletes from more than 300 colleges and universities in competing for the right to advance to the 2007 NCAA Track & Field Championships in Sacramento, Calif., on June 6-9.  The top five finishers in each individual event and the top three relays in the 4x100m and 4x400m will automatically qualify for the NCAA Championships.

Both Blackmon and Kursteiner posted their regional qualifying marks at the Hurricane Invitational on Mar. 17 in Miami.  The teammates equaled each others’ heights at 6’10.75” in the high jump to put Kursteiner fifth on the all-time school list in the event.  

Blackmon, an NCAA Championship qualifier a year ago, cleared 7’0.25” in Sacramento to finish 14th in the nation in 2006.  That personal best height ranks fourth in USF history.

Morse, a graduate of Freedom High in Tampa, garnered his regional qualifying mark with a 24’1” long jump two weeks ago at the Georgia Tech Invitational.  Morse’s leap placed him third in school history.  

The long jump heats will take place Friday at 6 p.m. in two flights, with the top nine finishers moving on to the final.  High jump heats will get underway Saturday at 1 p.m. in a five-alive jumping format until fewer than nine athletes remain.

The Bulls sent 10 qualifiers to Greensboro, N.C., for last year’s East Regional, with two other athletes joining Blackmon in moving on to the NCAA final meet.  Jonathon Miller took 14th in the country with a pole vault height of 16’10.75” and Taylar Stallings placed 24th in the discus with a distance of 153’8”.

Tickets to the 2007 NCAA East Regional Championships are available at $15 for adults for a two-day pass with senior citizens, students and children under 12 only $10.  One-day passes are $10 for adults and $7 for senior citizens, students and children under 12.  Tickets can be purchased on site.