Men's Track and Field earns 15 bids to NCAA Outdoor Championships
INDIANAPOLIS -- The NCAA granted the third-ranked University of Texas men's track and field squad 15 bids (13 automatic, 2 at-large) Tuesday to participate in the NCAA Outdoor Track and Field Championships slated for June 7-10 in Sacramento, Calif. Texas secured 13 automatic bids over the weekend at the NCAA Midwest Regional Championships in Austin, but the Longhorns garnered two at-large bids on Tuesday. Sophomore Joel Hargett (Conroe, Texas) earned a NCAA at-large bid in the high jump by way of his performance on April 22, when he cleared 7-2.25 at the Texas Twilight meet. Sophomore Jake Morse (Arlington, Texas) secured a NCAA at-large berth by way of his 8:47.86 clocking in the 3000-meter steeplechase at the Payton Jordan Cardinal Invitational on April 30. All totaled, Texas will competed in 10 events next week and will have multiple competitors in five of nine individual events. Freshman Jamaal Charles (Port Arthur, Texas) is slated for the 100- and 200-meter events and will be joined by senior Ronald Hill (Walnut, Calif.) in the 100 meters. Charles and Hill will join seniors Quincy Boles (Harker Heights, Texas) and Trey Griffin (Lockhart, Texas) in the 4x100-meter relay. Sophomore Leonel Manzano (Marble Falls, Texas) will return to Sacramento in hopes of defending the NCAA 1,500-meter crown he captured as a freshman. Junior Andra Manson (Brenham, Texas) will make his third consecutive NCAA high-jump appearance and looks to pick up another national title after taking top honors at the 2004 NCAA meet in Austin. Senior Mark Floreani (Chicago, Ill.) will join the aforementioned Morse in the 3000-meter steeplechase, while sophomore Hamza Deyaf (Richardson, Texas) will make his second NCAA 400-meter hurdle appearance in as many seasons. Senior Trey Hardee (Birmingham, Ala.), the collegiate decathlon record holder and reigning NCAA decathlon champion, returns as one of the favorites to capture the event in Sacramento. Junior Donovan Kilmartin (Eagle, Idaho), the 2006 NCAA indoor heptathlon champion, will challenge for top honors alongside Hardee. Senior Brian Robison (Splendora, Texas), the Big 12 shot put and discus champion, will compete in both events at the NCAA meet. Sophomore Derek Randall (Beeville, Texas), who secured the NCAA Midwest Regional discus title with a personal-best toss of 200-7, will make his first NCAA appearance. College Sports Television (CSTV) will air live coverage from day three of the event on Friday, June 9 from 7-9 p.m. CDT. CBS Sports will pick up live coverage on the final day, Saturday, June 10, from 2:30 p.m. to 5 p.m. CDT.
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