USI TRACK AND FIELD SET FOR NATIONAL MEET
University of Southern Indiana Men’s and Women’s Track & Field is making its final preparations for the NCAA Division II Outdoor Championships in Bradenton, Florida.
The Screaming Eagles had seven student-athletes qualify for the event, though senior Jessica Reeves (Midland, Michigan) will be unable to compete in the 10,000 meters after suffering an injury in the race she posted her qualifying time in.
Competition for the NCAA II Championships is Thursday-Saturday.
USI Schedule:
Thursday, May 26Â
-6:25 p.m. (CDT): Men’s 3,000-meter Steeplechase Prelims (Chase Broughton)
-7:55 p.m. (CDT): Men’s 10,000 meters (Johnnie Guy, Tyler Pence, Josh Guy)
-8:35 p.m. (CDT): Women’s 10,000 meters (Emily Roberts, Jamie Adkins)
Friday, May 27Â (Video coverage:Â http://www.ncaa.com/liveschedule/2016/05/27)
-6:15 p.m. (CDT): Men’s 3,000-meter Steeplechase Finals (Chase Broughton)
Saturday, May 28Â (Video coverage:Â http://www.ncaa.com/liveschedule/2016/05/28)
-7:05 p.m. (CDT): Men’s 5,000 meters (Johnnie Guy, Tyler Pence)
-7:30 p.m. (CDT): Women’s 5,000 meters (Emily Roberts)Â
USI Track & Field Notes
Looking for a 3-peat. USI is looking for its third straight national title in the men’s 10,000 meters Thursday after recording three top-six finishes a year ago. Tyler Pence took home the national title in 2015, while Johnnie Guy, the 2014 national champion, was second and Josh Guy was sixth.
USI men ranked nationally. USI’s men are ranked No. 11 in the pre-championship version of the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches’ Association Top 25 Computer Rankings. The Eagles will be looking for a strong team finish to help bolster their chances for a third straight top-10 finish in the USTFCCCA Program of the Year standings—USI was ninth after the indoor season.
High marks. Senior Johnnie Guy and sophomore Emily Roberts are both ranked in the top three of the men’s and women’s 5,000 and 10,000-meter fields. Guy posted the nation’s top time in the men’s 10,000 meters and the second-fastest time in the 5,000 meters, while Roberts posted the third fastest times in the women’s 5,000 meters and the women’s 10,000 meters.
Record-setting All-American. Senior Johnnie Guy is a combined 14-time All-American, the most of any student-athlete in any sport in USI history. Guy. who is looking to become the third multi-national champion in program history, earned six All-America awards in the outdoor 5,000 and 10,000 meters during his career at USI.
Pence looks to match Rono. Senior Tyler Pence is looking to match Elly Rono for the most national titles in school history when he toes the line in the 5,000 and 10,000 meters this week. Pence, a seven-time All-American, earned his first title in the indoor 5,000 meters in 2015 before winning the 10,000 meters last year at the NCAA II Outdoor Championships. Rono won the NCAA II title in cross country, the indoor 5,000 meters, and the outdoor 10,000 meters during the 1997-98 campaign.
Roberts looks to cap off historic sophomore campaign. Sophomore Emily Roberts looks to cap off a record-breaking sophomore season when she toes the line in the 5,000 and 10,000 meters this week. Roberts began the year by matching Mary Ballinger’s program record for highest finish at an NCAA II Cross Country Championship when she finished fifth at the national meet in November. Roberts, who was 16th in the 10,000 meters at the 2015 NCAA II Outdoor Championships, has since gone on to earn second-team All-America honors in the indoor season and shatter USI’s school records in both the outdoor 5,000 meters and 10,000 meters.
Return trips. Juniors Josh Guy and Chase Broughton are making their second straight appearances at the NCAA II Outdoor Championships. Guy was sixth in the 10,000 meters a year ago, while Broughton finished 17th in the steeplechase. Guy is in search of his second All-America award, while Broughton is looking for his first All-America honor.
Adkins makes first NCAA II Outdoor appearance. Senior Jamie Adkins is making her first trip to the NCAA II Outdoor Championships after appearing at the NCAA II Cross Country Championships for the first time this past November. Adkins is seeded 18th in the 21-competitor 10,000-meter field.
All-Region honorees. USI Track & Field student-athletes earned seven All-Midwest Region awards for their efforts during the outdoor season. Senior Johnnie Guy and sophomore Emily Roberts earned All-Midwest Region honors in the men’s and women’s 5,000 and 10,000 meters, respectively, while senior Tyler Pence and junior Josh Guy earned All-Region honors in the men’s 10,000 meters. Junior Chase Broughton rounded out the Eagles’ All-Region honorees with a nod in the men’s 3,000-meter steeplechase.
