May 29, 2009
GREENSBORO, N.C. -
Senior Michelle Fedrick earned a berth in Saturday's final of the women's 400-meter dash by winning her preliminary heat and posting the third-best time in the field Friday at the NCAA East Regional Track and Field Championships being hosted by North Carolina A&T.
Fedrick ran 53.44 to win her heat, besting Lauren McNary of Howard, who went 53.99. Fedrick will be seeded third in Saturday's final and needs to finish in the top five to earn a berth to the NCAA National Championships in mid-June.
Alexandria Spruiel of North Carolina A&T won her heat in 53.01, with Francena McCorory of Hampton earning the second-best time at 53.02.
Kiani Profit won her heat in the women's 400 hurdles at 59.54, but had the 10th-fastest time in prelims and missed the top eight. Profit, a Terrapin sophomore and the ECAC Outdoor Champion in the long hurdles, would have needed a mark of 59.02 to qualify among the top eight. Ti'erra Brown of Miami posted the fastest prelim time at 57.83.
Profit could still earn an invitation to the NCAA Outdoor Nationals. The top five in each of four regions earn automatic berths in the field, with the Division I Track & Field Committee able to add student-athletes to the national field based on previous performances. Profit came into the regional weekend ranked 18th in the nation with a season-best mark of 58.16.
Senior Chanel Williams placed sixth in her heat and 23rd overall with a time of 14.00 in the women's 100-meter hurdles. Kristi Castlin of Virginia Tech had the best qualifying mark on Friday of 13.11. A time of 13.60 was necessary to earn the final.
On the men's side, freshman Dwight Barbiasz cleared 6 feet, 10.25 inches to tie for 14th in the men's high jump. Jerome Miller of Georgia Tech went 7-3.25 to win the event and set a new East Regional record. A mark of 6-11.75 was necessary to finish among the top five and earn an automatic berth to nationals.
Junior Legonn Haskins ran 14.36, his third-best mark of the season, to place fifth in his heat and tie for 23rd overall in the men's 110-meter hurdles. Ronnie Ash of Bethune-Cookman had the fastest qualifying time at 13.55, with a mark of 14.06 being necessary to make Saturday's final.
Two Terrapins will wait until Saturday to see their first competition at the regional. Senior Ashley Williams competes in the women's shot put and junior Kristin Reed will be in the field for the women's 3,000 steeplechase after shattering the Maryland school record earlier this season.
