May 29, 2012

NEWPORT NEWS, Va. – A total of six Atlantic 10 student-athletes qualified to compete at the NCAA Outdoor Track & Field Championships at Drake University in Des Moines, Iowa, June 6-9. Qualifiers were determined at this past weekend’s NCAA East and West Regionals held in Jacksonville, Fla., and Austin, Texas, respectively.

The Charlotte 49ers women's 4x100m relay team punched a ticket to the NCAA Finals. The group, composed of LaTrese Barker, Joann Blakney, Briauna Jones and Sirrell Butler, ran a time of 45.00 seconds to place 10th in the first round of regionals and qualify for finals. The 4x100 was the only Charlotte event to reach the NCAA Finals, running the eighth-fastest time in school history to qualify.

Richmond’s Nicol Traynor also punched her ticket to NCAA Nationals for the second-consecutive year this past weekend after taking fourth in her heat and ninth overall with a time of 10:05.60 in the 3,000 meter Steeplechase. The 2011 All-American, who finished as the top non-automatic qualifier in the race, will now advance to the NCAA Championship of the 3,000 meter Steeplechase.

Temple’s Travis Mahoney finished the 3,000 meter Steeplechase at the NCAA East Preliminary with a season-best time of 8:40.00 to place ninth overall. Mahoney, the school record holder in the event, will also compete at the NCAA Championship at Drake University, June 6-9.

A-10 Student-Athlete Qualifiers for NCAA Championships - Des Moines, Iowa - June 6-9, 2012

Charlotte
LaTrese Barker – 4x100 Relay
Joann Blakney – 4x100 Relay
Briauna Jones – 4x100 Relay
Sirrell Butler – 4x100 Relay

Richmond
Nicol Traynor – 3,000 meter Steeplechase

Temple
Travis Mahoney – 3,000 meter Steeplechase