Youngstown State University
NCAA East Region First Round
Twelve Penguins Head to NCAA East Prelims in Jacksonville
5/23/2023 9:00:00 AM | Track and Field
Twelve members of the Youngstown State men's and women's track and field teams will be in action at the NCAA Outdoor Track and Field East Prelims beginning on Wednesday at the Jax Track at Hodges Stadium on the campus of North Florida in Jacksonville, Fla.
Representing YSU on the women's side are Jahniya Bowers (100m), Erin Bogard (pole vault) and Addi Watts (javelin). Competing for the Penguins in the men's events are Tye Hunt (long jump), Jakari Lomax (triple jump), Zach Gehm (discus), Dominic Perry (shot put), Ryan Henry (shot put), Wyatt Lefker (pole vault), Dorian Chaigneau (pole vault), Weston McLain (javelin) and Harry Barton (400m hurdles).
The top 12 finishers in each event will advance to the NCAA Championships in Austin, Texas, which are June 7-10.
Women's Preview
Bowers enters the postseason with a best time of 11.26 seconds. She will run in heat No. 2 of the 100m at 7 p.m. on Thursday. The top three finishers of the six heats and the next six fastest times will advance to the quarterfinals which are at 6:35 p.m. on Saturday.
Bogard enters the prelims with a recent school-record breaking effort of 4.20m. She will be in the second flight of the pole vault which is set for 6:30 p.m. on Thursday. The top 12 finishers advance to the NCAA Championships. The bar will start at 3.82m moving to 3.97m, 4.12m, 4.22m, 4.32m, 4.37m and then will be raised five centimeters going forward.
Watts had a season and personal-best throw of 46.05m. She will be in the first of three flights of the javelin which is set for 1:30 p.m. on Thursday afternoon. The event will consist of a single round with each athlete getting three attempts. The top 12 finishers advance to the NCAA Championships.
Men's Preview
Barton makes his NCAA debut in the 400m hurdles owning a top time of 51.58 seconds which he ran at the Horizon League Championships. He will run in heat No. 5 of the first round at 8:20 p.m. on Wednesday. The top three finishers of the six heats and the next six fastest times will advance to the quarterfinals which are at 7:25 p.m. on Friday.
Perry and Gray give YSU a pair of teammates in the shot put. Perry had a personal-best toss of 18.51m at the Horizon League Championships and will be making his second straight NCAA appearance. Henry is making his NCAA debut following a toss of 18.11m at the Harrison Dillard Twilights. Henry will throw in the second heat while Perry will compete in the third of four flights on Wednesday at 6 p.m. The event will consist of a single round with each athlete getting three attempts. The top 12 finishers advance to the NCAA Championships.
Lefker and Chaigneau will be in the mix to advance to the national finals in the pole vault. They both will be in the second flight of the prelims which are at 6:30 p.m. on Wednesday. The top 12 finishers advance to the NCAA Championships. The bar will start at 4.90m moving to 5.05m, 5.20m, 5.30m, 5.40m, 5.45m and then will be raised five centimeters going forward if needed. Last year, Lefker tied for third in the event with a clearance of 5.29m to advance to the NCAA Championships. This is his fourth NCAA appearance and the third time he is competing in Jacksonville.
McLain carries a school-record throw of 66.99m into the NCAA meet. He will be in the second of three flights of the javelin which is set for 1:30 p.m. on Wednesday afternoon. The event will consist of a single round with each athlete getting three attempts. The top 12 finishers advance to the NCAA Championships.
Hunt has a season-best leap of 7.62m in the long jump. He will be in the second of four flights in the event on Wednesday at 6 p.m. The event will consist of a single round with each athlete getting three attempts. The top 12 finishers advance to the NCAA Championships.
Gehm is making his third career appearance at the NCAA meet in the discus. He enters the meet ranked just outside the top 12 with a toss of 58.69m. He will be in the third of three flights on Friday when the event is set to start at 1 p.m. The event will consist of a single round with each athlete getting three attempts. The top 12 finishers advance to the NCAA Championships.
Lomax has a top school-record leap of 15.73m in triple jump. He will be the final jumper in the third of four flights in the event on Friday at 6 p.m. The event will consist of a single round with each athlete getting three attempts. The top 12 finishers advance to the NCAA Championships.
