University of North Carolina Athletics
North Carolina
NCAA East Preliminary Round
Three Tar Heels Advance After First Day of East Regional
May 30, 2014 | Track & Field
JACKSONVILLE, FLA., - The University of North Carolina track and field teams finished the first day of the NCAA East Preliminary round in which 12 Tar Heels competed. RJ Alowonle and Javonte Lipsey both qualified for the next round of competition in the men's 400-meter hurdles while Lizzy Whelan punched her ticket to the quarterfinals of the women's 1,500.
"I was really happy to see our kids perform well here in Jacksonville," North Carolina head coach Harlis Meaders said. "RJ and Javonte both ran really smart races and advanced to the next round tomorrow. The same holds true for Whelan in the 1,500. In the men's 800 freshman Cory Nicholls had another great race. The kid has gotten better every time he stepped on the track this year. Although he did not advance, it was really a great effort.
"In the field events, redshirt senior Chris DiLorenzo wrapped up his career at UNC with a lifetime performance. I am sad to see Chris end his season and career because he is a special kid. I'm happy that I got to share just a little time with him.
"Advancing is really the goal of this meet and we have several kids who are very capable of making it to Eugene. The coaching staff and I are really looking forward to the next few days here in Jacksonville."
Rain may have slowed the meet down and postponed a few events, but Lipsey and Alowonle both cruised into the next round of the 400 hurdles with times of 51.06 and 51.23 respectively. Both were automatic qualifiers as they finished in the top three of their heat and Alowonle took first in the fourth heat. They will race again tomorrow at 7:30 p.m. Roy Smith competed in the event and finished in 35th at 52.77. Smith will compete in the 110-meter hurdles tomorrow at 5:00 p.m.
Lizzy Whelan maneuvered herself to move into the next round with an automatic qualifying position, taking fourth in the first heat at 4:20.63. Whelan will compete again on Saturday at 6:45 p.m. Karley Rempel also competed in the women's 1,500 where she placed 45th at 4:36.50.
In his last collegiate competition, Chris DiLorenzo put up a career best effort in the shot put. DiLorenzo threw 57-9 ½ (17.61 meters) to improve his career best by four inches. DiLorenzo finished in 27th and second-best of his heat.
Cory Nicholls continued his great freshman campaign by posting another personal record in the 800. Nicholls ran 1:49.15 and ended up with the 26th fastest time at the meet.
Cori Floyd came into the competition as a first-time NCAA First Round qualifier in the women's 400-meter hurdles. The junior finished the competition in 37th after posting 1:00.27 on the scoreboard.
Kwame Donyinah competed in the men's open 400 where he finished 46th at 47.89. Donyinah will likely run in the men's 4x400, which is on Saturday at 9:25 p.m.
Houston Summers has made it to the NCAA East Preliminary Round each of his first two years. This year Summers threw 198-8 (60.55 meters) to finish in 34th.
Xenia Rahn, a multi-event athlete, qualified and competed in the women's long jump. Rahn jumped 19-8 ¼ (6.00 meters) to take 22nd overall in the event. Rahn will compete at the NCAA Outdoor Championships in the heptathlon in Eugene, Ore.
Avana Story battled through poor conditions to throw 182-6 (55.64 meters) in the women's hammer to take 30th overall.
Competition resumes again tomorrow with the men's hammer throw at 10 a.m. The Tar Heels won't compete until noon when Cameron Overstreet, Caroline Brailsford and Amanda Benninghoff face-off in the pole vault. A recap of results and performances will be on Goheels.com at the conclusion of each day.
Players Mentioned
