USF Track and Field’s Benjamin Qualifies to National Championship Finals
BLOOMINGTON, Ind., May 26, 2022 – The University of South Florida track and field team concluded the second day of the four-day NCAA East Preliminary rounds in Bloomington, Ind., with a qualification to the NCAA finals in Eugene, Oregon from June 8-11, and three also advancing to the quarterfinals on Saturday.
"This is the NCAA Championship. Nothing comes easy at this meet and every advancement is earned," head coach
Erik Jenkins said. "Stone had a good performance yesterday but narrowly missed qualifying for the NCAA finals. The majority of the group that competed today advanced to the next round and Shaniya punched her ticket to the NCAA Finals. We have a quality opportunity and certainly hope to take advantage of it over the next two days."
For the second consecutive year,
Shaniya Benjamin (Tampa, Fla.) qualified to the women's long jump championship finals after posting a 6.31 meters (20-8.5) leap and finishing in seventh position.
Hannah Connell (Bridgetown, Barbados) posted a 13.42 while
Shaneylix Davila (Kissimmee, Fla.) ran a 13.47 in the 100-meter hurdle, finishing in 14th and 17th place, respectively. Connell and Davila are both qualified for the quarterfinals which will take place this Saturday at 6:35 p.m.
Later in the day,
Sanique Walker (Manchester, Jamaica) wrapped up the second day of competition in the first round of the women's 400-meter hurdle by finishing in 19th place with 58.67. Walker will advance to the quarterfinals, which will take place on Saturday at 7:25 pm.
Eron Carter (Palatka, Fla.) competes in his second event of the weekend on Friday at 1 p.m. in the discus throw, followed by
Romaine Beckford (Portland, Jamaica), who enters the competition tied for second in the event, in the men's high jump at 2:30 p.m.
David Ajama (Lowell, Mass.) also earns his second start of the week in the triple jump at 6 p.m.
Twelve in each individual event and 12 relay teams at the East Prelims will advance to the NCAA Championships in Eugene, Oregon from June 8-11.
About USF Track and Field
The USF track and field team has earned 54 All-America selections and at least one All-American in 10 of the last 12 years, including a record eight athletes claiming 11 honors in 2021. Tampa native Shaniya Benjamin set a program record earning three All-American honors during the 2021 outdoor season, while triple jumper Matthew O'Neal, a 2016 graduate, became USF's first six-time NCAA All-American. Bulls have posted two NCAA runner-up finishes since 2013 - O'Neal (triple jump, 2016) and Courtney Anderson (high jump, 2013). Head coach Erik Jenkins took over the program in 2020 and in the 2021 outdoor season the Bulls posted seven program records and 40 top 10 all-time program marks. USF hosted the 2018 NCAA Track and Field East Preliminary and the 2021 AAC Outdoor Championship at the USF Track and Field Stadium located on the east end of campus.
– #GoBulls –
