T&T athletes Devin Augustine of the University of Minnesota, Kelsey Daniel of the University of Texas and Louisiana State University’s (LSU) Shakeem McKay have qualified for the 2024 National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division One (DI) Outdoor Track and Field Championships.
At the NCAA West Regionals at the University of Arkansas, Fayetteville, Arkansas on Friday, Augustine of local club Point Fortin New Jets(PFNJ) secured a lane in the men’s 200 metres when he was 10th in 20.36 (+2.1). The PFNJ sprinter was third in heat one in the second round of the half-lap sprint which was enough to guarantee the Mora, Point Fortin resident to be among the top 12 advancing to the NCAA DI finals set for Eugene, Oregon from June 4-8.
His qualification in the 200m came after he narrowly missed out in the 100m and 4x100m. In the 100m second round, the 2019 Carifta boys’ Under-17 100m champion was 13th in 10.08 (+2.5), 0.01 seconds behind the 12th and final qualifier James Crawford (CSUN) who clocked 10.07. In the 4x100m first round, Augustine and his Minnesota teammates were 18th in 40.09.
Daniel (Kaizen Panthers) leapt into the NCAA men’s triple jump finals after he was sixth-best in the qualifying round with 15.91m. The Bishops High, Tobago graduate will be making his maiden trip to the NCAA finals. However, Daniel won the 2023 Junior College Indoor long jump and triple jump titles as a student at New Mexico Junior College.
Aaron Antoine of Kansas State was two places short in the men’s high jump ending in 14th. The 2022 Carifta boys’ U-20 gold medallist and national men’s U-20 and men’s Indoor record holder cleared 2.14m.
Dillon Leacock’s Houston team was 16th fastest in the men’s 4x400m preliminaries in 3:06.07.
At the East Regionals at the University of Kentucky in Lexington, Kentucky, McKay (Abilene Wildcats) helped LSU to third place in the men’s 4x400m heats in 3:01.74 to earn his second NCAA Finals trip. The Queen’s Royal College past student made his NCAA Final debut in 2023.
Omari Lewis (Liberty/Concorde) was knocked out in the men’s 100m second phase when he was 18th in 10.30. The 2023 World Outdoor Championships campaigner finished down the field in heat one in seventh spot.
Clement Campbell’s Pittsburgh did not finish in the men’s 4x100m qualifying round.
Leah Bertrand (Ohio State/Simplex) was among five local ladies who were in action last night (Saturday) seeking to join Augustine, Daniel and McKay in the NCAA finals.
Bertrand ran in the second round of the women’s 100m at the East Regionals.
The 2023 Central American and Caribbean Games women’s 4x100m silver medallist also contested the women’s 4x100m with her Ohio State team along with Akilah Lewis and Ole Miss University.
Jelese Alexander (Southern Mississippi/Zenith) vied for a spot in the women’s high jump.
In the West Regionals, Rae-Anne Serville (South California/Memphis Pioneers) was listed in the women’s 400m hurdles second round. The national women’s U-20 400m record holder was also among her school’s squad for the 4x400m relay.
Taejha Badal (Memphis Pioneers) was scheduled to be part of Texas State’s 4x100m team which competed late yesterday.