Eagles Make Late Push To Nationals
Following the cancellation of the 2020 SAC Indoor Championships, the Eagles will head north to Indianapolis in a final push for Nationals.
INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. - Following the cancellation of the 2020 SAC Indoor Championships, the Eagles will head north to Indianapolis in a final push for Nationals.
The field at the ARC is full of several athletes looking to make their way into the national championships at several divisions, with Division I being represented by Southeast Missouri State and Middle Tennessee State. A slew of Division II programs will have athletes compete at UIndy, including ranked men's athletes from The Academy of Art, Texas A&M-Commerce, and host Indianapolis along with conference rivals Wingate and Queens. Harding, Piedmont, Marian (Ind.), Quincy, Angelo State, Wheeling University and Emmanuel (Ga.) will also have athletes competing this weekend.
"This is a large field of really good teams," says Director of Track & Field and Cross Country David Needs. "Not only will this push the athletes who are still looking to qualify, but will challenge our two qualifiers to improve their marks."
Devon Moore and Joseph Oreva have both currently qualified for the NCAA National Championships in three events. Moore has qualified in the 60 meter run with a seventh best in the nation time of 6.80 seconds and in the 200 meter run with a time of 21.44 seconds, currently eighth best in the nation.
Oreva sits alone on the mountaintop in the Division II men's long jump standings with an earth shattering jump of 7.84 meters, a full 0.09 meters ahead of second place Peter Ackah of UC-Colorado Springs.
Sterling Melancon sits just 0.01 seconds away from the provisional time of 6.86 seconds to qualify for the NCAA National Championships. His time of 6.87 seconds ranks 25th in the nation.
In men's high jump, Sam Cleek, Shane Connell and Danilo Cardoso will compete for the first time since the Buccaneer Invitational earlier in the month. Connell is the closest to setting a provisional mark for the NCAA National Championships as his jump of 2.00 meters in his debut in Birmingham is just 0.04 meters away from the current mark.
Theo Devillard will jump for the second time this season. Devillard set a mark of 6.80 meters earlier this year in Brimingham.
On the women's side, Amanda Lowe has been lightning around the track, breaking her own record in the 60 meter dash two weeks in a row. She sits 0.06 seconds away from a provisional spot at Nationals and another school record breaking performance.
Tia Davis has improved every week in the 60 meter dash this year, setting a new personal best with a time of 7.83 meters at the VMI Winter Classic.
Nathalie Schumacher sits just 0.02 meters away from setting a provisional mark in the women's high jump. The Germany native could tie her own school record with a qualifying time of at least 1.68 meters.
The qualifying Eagles will have a week off before heading to Brimingham, Ala. for the 2020 NCAA Division II National Championships beginning on Mar. 11.
