Senior Angie Rafter and sophomore Eddie Nicholas of the Central Connecticut track and field programs have qualified to run in the NCAA Outdoor Track and Field Championships - East Preliminary in Bloomington, IN, on May 25-28. Rafter qualified to run in the women's 5,000 and 10,000 meter races, while Nicholas will run in the men's 3,000 meter steeplechase.
NCAA CHAMPIONSHIPS EAST PREMLIMINARY INFO | SCHEDULE OF EVENTS
VIDEO | LIVE RESULTS
Rafter qualified for the 5,000 meter race with a time of 16:01.22 to be seeded #22 among the 48 runners in the field. She is seeded 24th in the 10,000 meter with a time of 34:01.76. Rafter was named Most Valuable Performer and Most Outstanding Track Performer (Distance) at the Northeast Conference Championships after winning the 5,000 meter and 10,000 meter races.
Nicholas earned a spot in the East Prelims by turning in a time of 8:47.11 to be seeded 21st in the 48-runner field. Nicholas recorded his time at the Princeton Elite Invitational, setting a CCSU school record in the process. He earned wins in both the 3,000 meter steeplechase (9:11.17) and in the 10,000 meter race (31:11.56) at the NEC Championships.
The women's 10,000 meters is scheduled to be run on Thursday, May 26 at 9:10 p.m. Nicholas will run the 3,000 meter steeplechase on Friday, May 27 at 5:40 p.m. Rafter will run her final event of the weekend on Saturday, May 28, at 8:10 p.m. in the 5000 meters.
The East Preliminary will be held at the Haugh Track & Field Complex on the campus of Indiana University. Tickets for single day admission will be $15, while an all sessions pass is $40 for adults and $35 for college students and youth (18 and under). Children two and under are free.
Athletes who rank among the top 48 in their respective event earn a berth into the NCAA East Preliminary Rounds. In addition, the best 24 relays times advance to the NCAA preliminaries. Athletes with the top 12 times/marks and the best 12 relay teams at both the East and West Preliminary Rounds sites will qualify for the NCAA Championships in Eugene, OR. The 2022 NCAA Division I Outdoor Track & Field Championships will be held in Eugene, OR, on June 8-11 at Hayward Field.
