Despite the Bobcats' ninth place finish in the Mid-American Conference Championships, five individual athletes qualified for the 2010 NCAA East Regional at North Carolina A&T.
A pair of seniors leads the group of athletes representing the Bobcats at the meet, which takes place Thursday through Sunday.
Bahiyjaui Allen will compete in the shot put and Emily Amendola will participate in the hammer throw.
Allen's best heave of 15.64 meters that she set at the MAC Championships qualified her to be among the region's best athletes.
Amendola also benefitted from the MAC Championships, where her mark of 54.73 qualified her.
Annie Beecham and Kari Summers will compete in the 10,000-meter run.
Beecham's best time in the outdoor season is 35:33.66, and Summers' best time in the event this season is 34:46.66.
An athlete that has flown under the radar for Ohio will also be competing at the Regional meet. Jenielle Hunt has the program record in the 3000-meter steeplechase.
She set the record of 10:39.77 at the 2010 Stanford Invitational.
Five is not the highest number of athletes Ohio has ever sent to the regional meet. Head coach Clay Calkins said that five was an average number.
Calkins said he knows his athletes and knows that every year they are successful.
Our athletes have been tested at the regionals before
Calkins said. It is good to see our seniors step up and earn regional marks.
Calkins said he is unsure of how his athletes will fare at the event.
Bahiyjaui Allen is capable of getting to nationals he said. She will have to set a (personal record) to do it but she can do it.
Calkins also mentioned Hunt's chances in the 3,000-meter run.
It will be a tall order
but she is talented
he said.
Summers and Beecham also have a chance at the national meet in the 10,000-meter run, Calkins said.
Don't rule out anyone
he said.
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Sports
Nick Robbe
