The Tribune

By BRENT STUBBS

Senior Sports Reporter

bstubbs@tribunemedia.net

NINE Bahamians have earned the rights to represent their respective colleges and universities next month in the NCAA National Outdoor Track and Field Championships in Eugene, Oregon.

The athletes had to go through NCAA East and West Regional Championships held over the weekend where they had to be one of the top 12 competitors in their various events to be on the list to travel to Eugene, Oregon, June 7-10 for the biggest collegiate meet.

In the process, hurdler Devynne Charlton and sprinters Jenae Ambrose and Teray Smith have also surpassed the qualifying standards in their respective events for the IAAF World Outdoor Championships, scheduled for August in London, England.

Joining the latter trio in booking their tickets to Eugene are hurdlers Katrina Seymour and Andre Colebrooke, quarter-miler Shaquania Dorsett, thrower Serena Brown and jumper Danielle Gibson.

Although they missed out in their individual events, both Carmeisha Cox and Keianna Albury will represent Purdue and Penn State as members of their relay teams.

At the NCAA East Regional in Lexington, Kentucky, Purdue's junior Devynne Charlton led the way by winning her heats of the women's 100 metres quarter-final in 12.87 to secure her berth in Eugene. She also took her preliminary heat in the fourth fastest time in 13.02. She also dipped under the London World Championships' qualifying time of 12.98.

Teray Smith, in his senior year at Auburn, will be in Eugene in the men's 200m. He earned his berth with a third place in his quarter-final heat in 20.25 for seventh overall. He also ran under the qualifying standard of 20.44 for the Worlds in London.

Three Bahamians contested the women's 200m, but only Auburn's sophomore Jenae Ambrose moved on to Eugene after she logged a third place in her heat in 23.05 for the 11th best time. Ambrose's time also surpassed the World Championship standard of 23.10.

Keianna Albury, a sophomore at Penn State, didn't make it after she was eighth in her heat in 23.80 for 24th place overall in the quarter-finals.

Carmeisha Cox, a senior at Auburn, also contested the preliminaries of the 200m, but she was 32nd overall in 23.60 and failed to move on with Ambrose, 16th in 23.18 and Albury, 19th in 23.33. All three ran on their respective schools' 4 x 100m relay teams that have advanced to Eugene where Cox will have double duties in the 4 x 4 as well.

On the field, Danielle Gibson will close out her senior campaign at Penn State with an appearance in the women's triple jump after she posted an eighth place 13.23 metres or 43-feet, 5-inches.

Katrina Seymour, in a great comeback story as a senior at East Tennessee State, was third in her heat of the women's 400m hurdles quarterfinal in 56.32 for fourth place overall and a spot in the semifinal in Eugene.

Andre Colebrooke will also compete in Eugene. The SE Louisiana senior booked his ticket with a second place finish in the men's 400m hurdles in 50.14 for the fifth fastest time.

Shaquania Dorsett, a Florida State sophomore, was second in her heat in 52.13 for eighth place over to also qualify for Eugene.

Henry Delauze, a junior at Miami, was seventh in his quarter-final heat in 47.09 for 19th place overall. But it wasn't enough to get him into Eugene as one of the top 12 qualifiers.

Kirk Lewis, a junior at Clemson, was sixth in his heat of the men's 110m hurdles for 28th overall in 14.16. He didn't advance to the final in Eugene.

At the West Regional at the Mike A. Myers Stadium in Austin, Texas, Texas A&M freshman Serena Brown qualified for Eugene with an ninth place finish in the women's discus. The national record holder had a toss of 54.94m or 180-feet, 3-inches on her third attempt after she fouled the first two.

Twin sister Brianne Bethel was 16th overall in 11.42 in the women's 100m quarter-final as she missed a chance to get travel to Eugene. She advanced out of the preliminaries with a 15th place finish in 11.28.

Kaiwan Culmer, a junior at the University of Nebraska, was 19th in the men's triple jump with his leap of 15.59m (51-13/4) on his first attempt, but it wasn't enough to get him into the top 12 for Eugene.