May 24, 2012

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. - University of Maryland senior Zack Ray finished second in his heat of the men's 400-meter hurdles on Thursday to advance to the national quarterfinal round at the 2012 NCAA Division I Outdoor Track & Field Championships.

Ray finished second in his heat with a time of 51.64, his second-fastest mark of the season in this event. Michigan sophomore Ali Arastu won the sixth and final heat at 51.47, with Nicoy Hines of Villanova in third at 52.04. Ray's mark was the 14th-best mark of the day among the 43 student-athletes who ran in the national first round.

The top three finishers in each of the six heats, plus the next nine fastest times advanced to the national quarterfinals, to be held Friday at 7:30 p.m. There will be three heats on Friday, with the top three finishers in each heat and the next three fastest marks moving on to national semifinals to be held at Drake University on June 6 to 9.

Also on Thursday, junior Moriah Young finished 32nd in the women's shot put with a mark of 47-10. Young had her best mark on her second attempt, but did not make the cut of finishing in the top 12 to earn a berth in the national finals.

Louisville seniors Khadija Abdulla and Chinwe Okoro finished 1-2 in the women's shot put at 56-2 and 55-3.75. Duke sophomore Michelle Anumba earned the 12th and final trip to Des Moines, Iowa, with a mark of 51-9.75.

Ray will also run Friday in the first round of the men's 110-meter hurdles at 5 p.m. He will return at 7:30 p.m. to run in the quarterfinal of the long hurdles.

Also on Friday, Amber Melville and Amina Smith will compete in the women's high jump, which begins at 5 p.m. The top 12 finishers in the 48-athlete field will advance to the national finals. Senior Ashley Cromartie will run at 9:30 p.m. in the national quarterfinals of the women's 3,000-meter steeplechase.

- Terps -