University of South Florida
NCAA East Regional Championship
Trio of Bulls Nationally Qualify on Day 1
May 30, 2008 | Track & Field, W Track & Field
ResultsTALLAHASSEE, Fla. - - Day one of the NCAA East Regionals at the Mike Long Track in Tallahassee, Fla. experienced temperatures in the 90's and some results for the University of South Florida track and field teams were just as scorching.
MEN
Mikese Morse, coming off a BIG EAST Outdoor championship in the long jump, had another big day as he placed third in the same event with a best leap of 7.60m (24'11.25”). Morse's placement guarantees him a spot in the NCAA Outdoor Championships and is the first member of the men's team to do so this year.
Fellow BIG EAST champion Glenn Fowler placed second in his heat during the 400-meter hurdles with a time of 51.54. Unfortunately for Fowler, despite the good time, he fell less than two-tenths of a second short of qualifying for Saturday's final.
In the men's high jump, the Bulls had a pair of student-athletes in the competition with senior Errol Blackmon and sophomore Michael Kursteiner. Although neither was able to qualify for the national meet, Blackmon, in his last collegiate meet, would not fade away easily.
After missing his first two attempts at the 2.06m (6'9”), he found himself with his back up against the wall, but pulled through by clearing the height.
Carlan Arthur has been impressive during his junior season by improving on his personal-best time on several occasions in the 800-meter run. Arthur came close to doing the same on Friday when he clocked a 1:50.38 effort.
WOMEN
Taylar Stallings, a senior from Martinez, Ga., placed fourth in the women's discus throw to advance her into the NCAA Outdoor Championships on June 11-14 in Des Moines, Iowa. Participants in the top five in each competition are guaranteed a spot in the national meet.
Stallings came into the meet ranked in the top-25 nationally in the discus and on her very first attempt of the day, tossed it an impressive 50.92m (167'1”). The mark set was her finest of the day and was enough to withhold the strong field of charging competitors.
After a four-year career that will go down as one of the finest in USF throws history, Stallings earns the right to compete in the NCAA Championship meet for the second time. In 2006 during her junior season, she also advanced in the discus and went on to place 24th nationally. 
Stallings will attempt to qualify in another event tomorrow when she takes her talent to the shot put event at 4:00 p.m.
Joining Stallings in Des Moines will be freshman pole vaulter Denise von Eynatten. After passing on the first two heights, von Eynatten then cleared the bar at both 3.96m and 4.06m on her third attempts.
By soaring over the 4.06m (13'3.75”) height, she qualifies for the NCAA Outdoor Championship to go along with her appearance at the NCAA Indoor Championships back in March.
Von Eynatten finished third in the competition, but no student-athlete cleared a better height. Only a duo of Virginia Tech Hokies matched the 4.06m (13'3.75”) mark, yet did so in fewer attempts.
Also taking part in the pole vault was freshmen Stephanie Duffy and Dana Webb. Both brought home top-10 finishes with Duffy clearing 3.66m (12'0”) and Webb clearing 3.81m (12'6”).
Jara Cornett, in her first NCAA Division I meet of her career, saved her best throw for last in the javelin competition with a heave of 43.23m (141'10”) to place 13th.
The Bulls will be back in action tomorrow beginning at 4:00 p.m. with the women's shot put with the Regional wrapping up following the conclusion of the men's discus throw at 6:00 p.m.
