Harris Advances to 800-meter Semi-Final Round at NCAA Championships
June 11, 2008
DES MOINES, <?xml:namespace prefix=”st1″ ns=”urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags”?>Iowa– The University of Miami’s track and field teams will open the 2008 NCAA Outdoor Track and Field National Championships with success at the first day of competition DrakeUniversity’s Drake Stadium.<?xml:namespace prefix=”o” ns=”urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office”?>
Four-time All-American and six-time ACC Champion Tim Harris won the first of four preliminary heats in the 800-meters with a time of 1:49.70, qualifying him for tomorrow’s semi-final round at 6:25 p.m. The top three finishers in each heat advance to the semi-final round as well as the next four best times.
For the women, freshmen sensations Ti’erra Brown and Takecia Jameson both advanced to the semi-final round in the 400-meter hurdles. Of the five preliminary heats, the top two finishers plus the next six best times move on to Thursday’s 5:45 semi-final round.
Brown ran a 57.98, finishing second in the fifth preliminary heat, while Jameson won the second heat with her third-best time of the season at 58.39.
The Southeast Region Field Performer of the Year Khadija Talley advanced to Friday’s final round in the discus with a qualifying mark of 51.39m (168-07) on Wednesday. Of the 29 competitors in the discus, only 12 move on to the final. Talley’s mark was the eighth-best of day.
Talley will be participating in the qualifying round of her second national championship event tomorrow as she will compete in the shot put at 7:15 p.m.
Junior Viktoria Andonova failed to qualify for the high jump final, as she leapt to her third-best height of the season at 1.74m (5-08.50).
The 4×100 relay team of Tara Thomas, Kristy Whyte, Charlene Fuller and Krista Simkins also will not be advancing as they finished 18th with a time of 45.54.
Also in action tomorrow for the women will be the 4×400 relay team of Ena Leufroy, Tameka and Takecia Jameson and Kristy Whyte. Their start time is scheduled for 7:40 p.m.
All start times are Central Standard Time.
