Bermuda native and University of Georgia (UGA) sophomore Aaron Evans led a number of Caribbean qualifiers from the East Regional onto the NCAA Championships Final to be held in Eugene, Oregon June 9 to 12. His time of 1:46.26 secs in the 800m at the NCAA East Regional on Friday, May 28, lowered both the UGA school record and the Bermudian record from 1:47.00, which he established two weeks ago on Saturday, May 15.
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Evans qualifies for Oregon.
Jake McDonald – I-Light Media photo
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Commenting on his performance, Evans said: “It is surreal; I did not expect to run that fast; I was aiming to finish in the top three.” Evans’s 1:46.26 is the fastest by a collegian this season. “I think I can go faster. I think it’s going to take a 1:45.00 performance to win the NCCA final,” said the Devonshire, Bermuda native.
Other qualifiers from the East Region include Trinidad & Tobago (T&T) Rondel Sorrillo, who will represent the University of Kentucky in the 100m (10.05) and the 200m (20.29) in Eugene.
In the men’s 400m, Jamaica’s and Mississippi State University’s senior Dwight Mullings (45.12) and Grenada’s and the University of Alabama’s freshman Kirani James (45.12) both booked their tickets to the final also.
On the women’s side, Jamaica’s Samantha Henry (LSU) led the 100m qualifiers with 11.18 secs. Bahamas’s and Auburn University’s Sheniqua Ferguson (11.35) and Jamaica’s and University of Connecticut’s Trisha-Ann Hawthorne (11.40) will also be going to Eugene.
In the 200m, Henry (23.10) and Ferguson (22.87) will compete for the title, along with Ferguson’s college teammate and fellow Bahamian, Nivea Smith (23.15).
University of Alabama’s Kimberly Laing (Jamaica) also qualified for Eugene with a 12.92 secs performance in the 100m hurdles.
In the triple jump, Florida State’s Kimberly Williams (14.03m / 46’-0½”) and LSU’s Melissa Ogbourne (13.30m / 43’-7¾”), both Jamaicans, qualified for Eugene.
Trinidad’s Britany St. Louis (53.37), the Florida State junior qualified for the 400m final.