Florida State’s Track & Field teams will be well represented at the NCAA East Regional being held at the University of North Florida in Jacksonville from Wednesday-Saturday. FSU will have 25 student-athletes competing in 20 events with 13 qualifiers from the men’s team in nine events and 12 from the women’s team in 11 events.
“The old timers refer to this meet as the East Region championships, but it’s truly the first round of the NCAA National Championships,” FSU Head Coach Bob Braman said. “How you perform here sets the fields for Nationals and that’s key for getting in good lanes and the best heats and flights for the NCAA Championship in two weeks.
“So, job one is to finish in the Top 12 of your event and advance to the final round in Austin, but you need to be at your best no matter what.”
The East Regional is one of two in the country with qualifiers from the western portion of the U.S. competing at Sacramento State. The Top 12 finishers in each event from both the East and West Regionals will qualify for the NCAA Championships at the University of Texas June 7-10.
“I feel like we’re peaking at the right time and we should advance quite a few to the final championships, but we need a few of our stars to be healthy and at their best for that to happen,” Braman said.
“It’s great being close to home and in a familiar climate. We’re used to the humidity and rains, so that will make for smoother execution for us.”
Jeremiah Davis leads the contingent of qualifiers from the men’s team having earned First Team All-America honors in both the long and triple jump at the NCAA Indoor Championships. Davis, who was the ACC Field Performer of the Meet at both indoor and outdoor championships this season, is among the favorites to win a national championship in each event should he qualify for the NCAA Championships. Amir Willis, who won the 100 meter championship at the ACC outdoors two weeks ago, was a First Team All-American in the indoor 60 meter dash in March. Ismael Kone also earned First Team All-America honors at the NCAA indoor championships his coming in the 200 meters.
Freshman Dajaz DeFrand swept the 100 and 200 meter championships at the ACC outdoor meet two weeks ago and was Second Team All-American in the indoor 60 and 200 meter dashes at the NCAAs. Caisa-Marie Lindfors has had a spectacular season after being limited by injuries over the previous two years. She won the ACC…