Wednesday, June 6
Eugene, Ore.
3:30 P.M. ET
North Carolina
at
NCAA Outdoor Track & Field Championships Day 1
Senior Kenny Selmon advanced to his third straight final in the men's 400-meter hurdles after qualifying with the top semifinal time.
Photo by: Rick Morgan
Selmon Advances to Friday's NCAA Final
June 7, 2018 | Track & Field
EUGENE, Ore. — Senior Kenny Selmon kicked off opening day competition for the University of North Carolina track and field teams at the NCAA Outdoor Track & Field Championships on Wednesday at Hayward Field. Finishing first in his heat with the fastest semifinal time of 49.27, he earned the top seed for the men's 400-meter hurdles final on Friday.
Selmon, a senior from Mableton, Ga., will make his third-straight finals appearance in the event, hoping to finally capture the title of national champion after finishing fourth in 2017 and third in 2016. He also advanced to the NCAA Outdoor Championships as a freshman in 2015 and finished 12th in the men's 400-meter hurdles.
Looking ahead to Friday, Selmon knows he will have to focus in as he races against seven strong competitors.
"I've been looking for competition," Selmon said. "I know that I kind of hit the brakes and relaxed coming home, so as far as the final it's going to take me to finish the race and run a full race instead of a prelim race. I'm excited for the challenge and I'm ready to do it. It's supposed to rain on Friday, but it's raining in everybody's lane so I'm excited."
Reminiscent of the past four years, UNC head coach Harlis Meaders looks forward to watching the senior compete for the Tar Heels one last time.
"I was really excited to see Kenny advance," Meaders said. "I've watched him run on this course now five times including when he was a high school senior, and it has been an experience. His senior year of high school he didn't advance, but every year since then he's been mentally tough, getting better and better and better. It's amazing how much he's grown over the four years he's been with us and now he has put himself in a position to be national champion. That's why he came to Carolina, that's what we've trained for, and he's been on the podium multiple times. He's going to have to have a great race, but now he's got that opportunity again."
Selmon will take to the track Friday, June 8, at 6:57 p.m. PT for the 400-meter hurdles final.
Before Selmon returns for his final race, three Tar Heels will compete in their own finals on Thursday. Freshman Jill Shippee heads to the women's hammer throw at 1:30 p.m. PT, and Anna Keefer competes in the women's long jump finals at 5:30 p.m. PT. Senior Caroline Alcorta will also make her first appearance at the NCAA Outdoor Track & Field Championships in the women's 10,000 meters at 6:38 p.m. PT.
THURSDAY'S CAROLINA COMPETITORS
Women
Caroline Alcorta – 10,000 meters
Alcorta, a senior from Springfield, Va., is making her first trip to NCAA Outdoor Championships. She ran 33:58.22 in the 10,000 meters, finishing third at the NCAA East Preliminary round, just four seconds slower than her personal-best at the Raleigh Relays on March 30. She holds the second-best time in UNC history in the event, an accomplishment she earned in her first ever appearance in the 10,000 meters.
WHEN TO WATCH
Thursday, 6:38 p.m. PT (Final) – ESPN2
Anna Keefer – Long Jump
Keefer, a freshman from St. Michael Albertville, Minn., jumped a lifetime-best 20-9 (6.32 meters) in the long jump at the Battle of the Blues on April 6. She won the indoor ACC title in the event and earned second-team honors in the long jump at the ACC Outdoor Championships. Keefer is set to compete as the eighth athlete in the second of two flights on Thursday after claiming the 11th spot out of the East.
WHEN TO WATCH
Thursday, 5:30 p.m. PT (Final) – ESPN3
Jill Shippee – Hammer Throw
Shippee, a freshman from Clifton Park, N.Y., is UNC's record holder in the hammer throw with a personal-best 207-4 (63.19 meters) she threw at the Virginia Challenge on April 21. She took fourth in the event at the ACC Outdoor Championships and she is scheduled to compete fifth in the second of two flights on Thursday. She took fifth in the competition at the NCAA East Preliminary Round.
WHEN TO WATCH
Thursday, 1:30 p.m. PT (Final) – ESPN3
Selmon, a senior from Mableton, Ga., will make his third-straight finals appearance in the event, hoping to finally capture the title of national champion after finishing fourth in 2017 and third in 2016. He also advanced to the NCAA Outdoor Championships as a freshman in 2015 and finished 12th in the men's 400-meter hurdles.
Looking ahead to Friday, Selmon knows he will have to focus in as he races against seven strong competitors.
"I've been looking for competition," Selmon said. "I know that I kind of hit the brakes and relaxed coming home, so as far as the final it's going to take me to finish the race and run a full race instead of a prelim race. I'm excited for the challenge and I'm ready to do it. It's supposed to rain on Friday, but it's raining in everybody's lane so I'm excited."
Reminiscent of the past four years, UNC head coach Harlis Meaders looks forward to watching the senior compete for the Tar Heels one last time.
"I was really excited to see Kenny advance," Meaders said. "I've watched him run on this course now five times including when he was a high school senior, and it has been an experience. His senior year of high school he didn't advance, but every year since then he's been mentally tough, getting better and better and better. It's amazing how much he's grown over the four years he's been with us and now he has put himself in a position to be national champion. That's why he came to Carolina, that's what we've trained for, and he's been on the podium multiple times. He's going to have to have a great race, but now he's got that opportunity again."
Selmon will take to the track Friday, June 8, at 6:57 p.m. PT for the 400-meter hurdles final.
Before Selmon returns for his final race, three Tar Heels will compete in their own finals on Thursday. Freshman Jill Shippee heads to the women's hammer throw at 1:30 p.m. PT, and Anna Keefer competes in the women's long jump finals at 5:30 p.m. PT. Senior Caroline Alcorta will also make her first appearance at the NCAA Outdoor Track & Field Championships in the women's 10,000 meters at 6:38 p.m. PT.
THURSDAY'S CAROLINA COMPETITORS
Women
Caroline Alcorta – 10,000 meters
Alcorta, a senior from Springfield, Va., is making her first trip to NCAA Outdoor Championships. She ran 33:58.22 in the 10,000 meters, finishing third at the NCAA East Preliminary round, just four seconds slower than her personal-best at the Raleigh Relays on March 30. She holds the second-best time in UNC history in the event, an accomplishment she earned in her first ever appearance in the 10,000 meters.
WHEN TO WATCH
Thursday, 6:38 p.m. PT (Final) – ESPN2
Anna Keefer – Long Jump
Keefer, a freshman from St. Michael Albertville, Minn., jumped a lifetime-best 20-9 (6.32 meters) in the long jump at the Battle of the Blues on April 6. She won the indoor ACC title in the event and earned second-team honors in the long jump at the ACC Outdoor Championships. Keefer is set to compete as the eighth athlete in the second of two flights on Thursday after claiming the 11th spot out of the East.
WHEN TO WATCH
Thursday, 5:30 p.m. PT (Final) – ESPN3
Jill Shippee – Hammer Throw
Shippee, a freshman from Clifton Park, N.Y., is UNC's record holder in the hammer throw with a personal-best 207-4 (63.19 meters) she threw at the Virginia Challenge on April 21. She took fourth in the event at the ACC Outdoor Championships and she is scheduled to compete fifth in the second of two flights on Thursday. She took fifth in the competition at the NCAA East Preliminary Round.
WHEN TO WATCH
Thursday, 1:30 p.m. PT (Final) – ESPN3
Players Mentioned
Distance
/ Track & Field
Sprints/Jumps
/ Track & Field
Sprints/Hurdles
/ Track & Field
Throws
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