Great Danes Open At East Prelims
Day One Results
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – A contingent of nine University at Albany track & field student-athletes descended upon the University of North Florida for the NCAA East Preliminary Championships this week. Four of the nine ran on Thursday, the first day of competition.
Grace Claxton kicked off events for the Great Danes in the women's 400m hurdles. The school record-holder in the event qualified fourth overall for Friday's quarterfinal round, finishing in her second-fastest time ever in 56.97.
Next up was Robert Harris III in the men's 100m. He placed 33rd overall in 10.67.
The final two UAlbany competitors of the day each ran in the men's 400m. Taariq Jones qualified for quarterfinals in 23rd place, running a personal-best time of 46.64. Myles Banfield placed 26th, also running a personal-best of 46.83. The time is also the fastest ever run by a UAlbany freshman.
Claxton and Jones return to the track on Friday to run for a qualifying spot in their respective events. The top three finishers in each quarterfinal heat plus the next three fastest overall times, for a total of 12, will advance to NCAA Championships in Eugene, Oregon, on June 8.
Anika Hibbard and Jonathan Eustache will also compete Friday, in the women's high jump and the men's discus, respectively.
