Tampa, Fla., May 18, 2023 – The University of South Florida track and field team will send 23 student-athletes to the 2023 NCAA East Prelims hosted by the University of North Florida in Jacksonville, Fla. from May 24-27. 

" I am excited to be having such a capable group headed to the 2023 NCAA Division I Outdoor Track & Field East First Round," head coach Erik Jenkins said, "You have to earn the right to compete in this championship and it will be a tough meet to advance but we are prepared for the challenge. Having a group this large competing in the NCAA is another step forward in our program's growth."

The four-day regionals serve as the qualifying meet for the NCAA National Championship meet, held in Austin, Texas from June 7-10. 

Following up on last weekend's success, both the women's 4x100 team of Je'Nyia Burton, Jadaja Baxter, Terren Peterson, Shaniya Benjamin, and the 4x400 team of Benjamin, Zahria Allers-Liburd, Doneisha Anderson and Burton earned a place in the regional competition. 

The men's 4x100 team will include Danelson Mahautiere, Shevioe Reid, Jaleel Croal, Zayquan Lincoln, while the 4x400m squad will feature Daunte O'Banion, Reid, Michael Bourne III and Elijah Wright.

Benjamin (women's) and Reid (men's) qualified for the 200m dash competition, while Wright (men's), Burton, and Anderson (women's) entered in the 400m.

Shaneylix Davila qualified for competition in the women's 100-meter hurdles while Sanique Walker is qualified in the 400-meter hurdles. In the men's side, Bourne is qualified for both 110m and 400m hurdle events.

In field events, AAC's Most Outstanding Performance and conference champion, Nia Robinson, and Benjamin earned a spot at the prelims in the long jump, while Annia Ashley will compete in the women's high jump competition.

On the men's side in field events, Kobe Babin and Stone Baker qualify in the men's pole vault. Babin recently matched the current school record mark of 5.36m (17-7) and was the runner-up at the AAC Outdoor Championships.

Romaine Beckford, the 2023 NCAA Indoor high jump champion, continued dominance in the men's high jump this season to earn a spot in the East Prelims.

 
About USF Track and Field
The USF track and field team has earned 56 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. Romaine Beckford won the 2023 NCAA Indoor Championship in the men's high jump. 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.