May 26, 2012

USTFCCCA Championships Central

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. - - Maryland junior Jon Hill cleared 7-2.25 in the men's high jump to earn a trip the national final during competition on Saturday in the NCAA Division I Outdoor Track & Field Championships being hosted by North Florida.

Hill matched the height he jumped to win the IC4A Outdoor Championship two weeks ago. He was one of 12 competitors over that height, with the top 12 earning a trip to the 24-athlete national final to be held at Drake University on June 6 through 9.

The Maryland junior was one of only four competitors to clear 7-2.25 on his first attempt, giving him a tie for third in the East Preliminary round. He matched the height that has him sixth on Maryland's all-time list outdoors in the men's high jump.

Also on Saturday, freshman Thea LaFond advanced through the first three jumps in the women's triple jump and finished 16th overall in the event, just short of a top-12 finish and a spot in the national final.

LaFond had a career-best 41-10.50 on her third attempt in preliminary rounds, moving from 27th to 16th on her final jump. She was unable to improve her mark in the final three attempts. The final qualifying position went to Kent State senior Penina Acayo, who went 42-6.75.

LaFond is still second on the Terps' all-time list in the women's triple jump. She was fourth among freshmen in Saturday's competition at the East Prelim.

Senior Jessie Echard was 21st in the women's hammer Saturday at 182-9, with teammate Moriah Young placing 38th at 173-0. Maggie Mullen of Ohio State earned the final advancing position with her 12th-place finish of 190-0 in the event.

Maryland senior Zack Ray, who had already qualified for a trip to Des Moines in the 400-meter hurdles, received a medical scratch from his spot in the national quarterfinals in the 110-meter hurdles due to a slight hamstring strain. He had qualified 15th in the first round of the short-hurdle prelims with a career-best 13.89 on Friday.

Ray and Hill will join senior Kiani Profit at the NCAA Nationals at Drake University in two weeks. The heptathlon was not contested in the East Preliminary round, with the top 12 on the performance list earning berths through to Des Moines. Profit will be seeded seventh in the event, to be hosted by Drake University.

- Terps -