2016 NCAA D1 East Preliminary Round

NCAA Prelims Day Three Recap: Arkansas Throws Down World Lead in 4x400m

NCAA Prelims Day Three Recap: Arkansas Throws Down World Lead in 4x400m

The final day of NCAA preliminary action saw standout performances in Jacksonville and Lawrence, which for the first time in two days, experience zero weath

May 29, 2016 by Taylor Dutch
NCAA Prelims Day Three Recap: Arkansas Throws Down World Lead in 4x400m
The final day of NCAA preliminary action saw standout performances in Jacksonville and Lawrence, which for the first time in two days, experience zero weather delays! Catch up on the top performances that led to NCAA Championship berths. 


Arkansas Sets 4x400m World Lead

The NCAA west preliminary was lit up by a world leading performance from the Arkansas Razorbacks. The 4x400m relay squad split 3:25.48 to punch their ticket to Eugene, Oregon. The team of Damajahnee Birch, Daina Harper, Monisa Dobbins, and Taylor Ellis-Watson beat out rival school Texas to secure an automatic spot on the line at the NCAA Outdoor Championships. The team’s performance broke the previous school record by two seconds and stands as the seventh-best performance all-time. 




Edward Cheserek Owns 10K, 5K Double

The Oregon Duck appeared to be back to full health when he claimed his second event victory of the meet in the 5K. Despite the weather delays, which pushed the 10K to Friday at 8am and caused a shorter rest period between events, Cheserek maintained his composure to advance. The nine-time NCAA Champion ran 14:10.66 to claim heat one of the 5K and punch his second ticket back home to Eugene after winning the 10K. 




No Surprises In NCAA East 1500m

NCAA Indoor Champions Clayton Murphy and Henry Wynne got the job done in the preliminary rounds of the NCAA east region 1500m. Murphy swept his heat in a winning time of 3:42.82 and carried All American Brannon Kidder, Robert Domanic, James Gowans Ben Malone, Craig Engels, and David Timlin to Eugene. Wynne took his heat of the 1500m in 3:46.22, and was followed by Adam Palamar, Neil Gourley, Jordan Williamsz, and James Randon. 




Marta Freitas Unloads 4:09 to Take NCAA East

The Mississippi State All American unleashed a 4:09.80 winning time to take heat one of the women’s 1500m in Jacksonville. Freitas’ winning time improves upon her previous 4:10.98 personal best from July 2015 and improves upon her still-standing NCAA lead. 




Dom Scott Crushes 10K, 5K Double

Despite the shortened rest period between events, Scott won the 10K and advanced in the 5K at the NCAA west preliminary. After claiming the 10K victory Friday morning, Scott let loose on the 5K by claiming a sixth-place finish to automatically advance in both distance events. 




Wind Leads Mitchell-Blake and Rodney Under 20 in NCAA East 200m

The heavy winds in Jacksonville helped guide SEC Champion Nathaneel Mitchell-Blake and Brendon Rodney to dip under 20 seconds in the 200m. Mitchell-Blake of LSU and Rodney of LIU Brooklyn went 19.96 and 19.97 to automatically punch their tickets to Eugene.