The NCAA Division II Men’s and Women’s Track and Field and Cross Country Committee has announced the participants for the 2016 NCAA Division II Men’s and Women’s Outdoor Track and Field Championships.
Lee University’s Adrian Martin will be one of the total 754 participants, 377 men and 377 women, selected to compete in the championships. Student-athletes qualified for the championships by reaching the automatic and provisional standards established for each event.
The championships will be held May 26-28 in Bradenton, Florida, at IMG Academy. The University of Tampa and IMG Academy will serve as co-hosts of the championships. The championships will be streamed live on NCAA.com each day.
“Adrian has been so consistent this year,” said Lee head coach Caleb Morgan. “We are excited to see what she can accomplish against a loaded field.”
Martin qualified for and was selected to compete in the 100 and 200 meter dash. The 100 meter is scheduled for May 26 with the 200 meter to be contested on May 27.
“It is very difficult to make it in one event and for Adrian to make it in two shows how talented she is. She is very deserving to have the opportunity to represent Lee on this stage,” added Morgan.
The junior enters the 100 meter with the eighth-fastest time in the field of 35. She posted her mark of 11.67 at the GSC Championships last month. The top qualifying time is 11.36 by Nikia Squire of Queens University of Charlotte.
There will also be 35 runners competing at the 200 meter distance. Martin’s time of 23.93 from the GSC Championships is No. 11 in the field. Kaina Martinez of Texas A&M University-Kingsville holds the top time at 23.33.
“This was one of my goals coming into the season,” said Martin. “I would love to be able to finish in the top eight and earn All-American status, as well as score points for the team.”
Several of the Lee Men’s Track and Field team just missed joining Martin in Bradenton. Josiah Brooks posted the 23rd-fastest 200 meter time (21.20), but the selection committee took just the top 21 with No. 21 recording a time of 21.15. Justin Brooks was No. 25 at 21.24.
Justin Brooks (47.55) was 0.09 seconds behind the final selection for the 400 meter dash (47.46) and Josiah Brooks missed joining the triple jump by 0.05 meters.
Harold Smith and Emmanuel Kipchumba were declared for the 800 meter run with times of 1:51.24 and 1:52.15, respectively. The top 20 times were selected with No.20 holding a mark of 1:50.66.
The 4x100 meter relay team consisting of the Brooks brothers, Jovan Jones and Stephen Cannon had a provisional qualifying time of 40.97 and were No. 22 among those that declared for the national selection. Only the top 14 teams received the invite with the last team in holding a time of 40.62.