Over 100 Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) track and field student-athletes will compete at the NCAA Division I Outdoor Track & Field East Regional Championships Friday and Saturday, May 29-30 at the Irwin Belk Track at North Carolina A&T State University.
The top five individual event finishers and top three relay teams from each region will advance to the 2009 NCAA Division I Outdoor Championships, June 10-13 in Fayetteville, Arkansas.
The North Carolina A&T Aggies, hosts of the East Regional, lead the MEAC with 16 student-athletes to compete in this weekend’s meet. Maryland Eastern Shore followed with 14, while Hampton and Norfolk State will each have 12 athletes eligible to compete.
Four MEAC tracksters are among the top ten in their events in the nation and 65 student-athletes are ranked among the top 20 in the east region.
Hampton junior Francena McCorory is fourth in the nation and leads the east region in the 400m dash with a time of 51.75 recorded at the MEAC Outdoor Track and Field Championships. McCorory is also second in the east region with a time of 23.23 in the 200m dash. North Carolina A&T senior sprinter Alexandria Spruiel is seventh in the nation in the 400m dash and second in the east region with a time of 51.95.
Spriuel’s teammate Loreal Smith holds the 10th spot in the nation and fourth in the east region with a time of 13.14 in the 100m dash.
On the men’s side, Bethune-Cookman sophomore Ronnie Ash tallied the 10th fastest mark in the nation and third in the east region with a record time of 13.58 in the 110m hurdles.
The 2009 NCAA Division I Outdoor Track and Field East Regional Championships begin Friday, May 29 at 11 a.m. For a complete schedule, log on to www.ncaa.com or www.ncataggies.com.
For more information on MEAC Track and Field or other sponsored sports, log on to www.MEACsports.com.