Pearson And Watson Qualify For 800 Final At NCAA Indoor Meet

March 9, 2001

Fayetteville, Ark. (www.hurricanesports.com) – – Sophomore Patricia Pearson (Jacksonville, Florida) and senior Natalie Watson (Coral Springs, Florida) both qualified for the finals in the women’s 800-meter run in Friday’s competition at the NCAA Indoor Track and Field Championships at Fayetteville, Arkansas. Pearson and Watson will compete in the finals of the 800 Saturday night.

Pearson placed third in the first heat of the preliminaries in 2:07.75, just behind Aimee Teteris of Rice (2:06.99) and Tanya Jarrett of Texas (2:07.73). Watson placed second in heat three in a time of 2:07.32, slightly behind Svetlana Badrankova of Texas-El Paso (2:07.24). Watson’s time was the fourth fastest qualifying time of the finalists while Pearson’s performance gave her the eighth and final qualifying position.

Pearson and Watson recently finished first and second, respectively, at the BIG EAST Conference championships. Watson placed sixth in last year’s 800 final.

Also competing Saturday night for Miami will be junior Kareen Clarke (Lithonic, Georgia) in the women’s triple jump. Clarke won the BIG EAST Conference title in the event for the second consecutive year with a leap of 12.84 meters and has a 2001 seasonal best of 12.99 meters. Clarke placed fifth at last year’s NCAA Indoor meet.