Middle Tennesee State University Athletics
Friday, March 11
Birmingham, Ala.
Middle Tennessee
vs
NCAA Indoor Championships
Rutto, Okot to compete in NCAA Championships
3/8/2016 11:07:00 AM | Track & Field/Cross Country
INDOOR PERFORMANCE CHARTS/PERSONAL BESTS | INDOOR RECORDS
MURFREESBORO, Tenn. – Two Middle Tennessee men's track & field athletes are slated to compete in the NCAA Indoor Track & Field competition in Birmingham, Alabama March 11-12.
Event: NCAA Indoor Track & Field Championships
Date: March 11-12
Site: Birmingham, Alabama
Friday Start Times: Field Events 5 p.m. | Track Events 5:30 p.m.
Saturday Start Times: Field Events 3:30 p.m. | Track Events 4 p.m.
Results: ncaa.com
Who Made It?
Eliud Rutto and Vincent Okot each qualified for the NCAA Indoor Track & Field Championships that will be hosted in Birmingham, Alabama.
Rutto qualified for the 800 meter after finishing third at the Iowa State Classic Feb. 13. His time ranks as the sixth fastest in the NCAA.
Okot qualified in the triple jump, bounding 16.08 meters at the Vanderbilt Opener Dec. 5, 2015. The Uganda native's distance ranks as the 13th best in the NCAA.
Familiar Location
The two Blue Raiders return to Birmingham for the third time this season, as Middle Tennessee competed in the Emory Invitational in January and the Conference USA Indoor Championships in February.
Coach Dean Hayes
"The NCAA is the epitome, whether it is cross country, indoor or outdoor track," said head coach Dean Hayes. "It is what the ultimate goal is for our athletes and obviously it is the elite that are the ones that get there."
"Rutto is definitely in the elite, as he ran 1:46 (in the 800) indoors and 1:45 (in the 800) outdoors, placed twice in the NCAA and his resume puts him in the elite category," Hayes stated. "For Vincent, it will be his first time competing in the NCAA and he does have a performance that merits him being there. It puts him in the top group in the collegiate ranks."
"It is great to be there and it is fun to watch these people develop enough to get there," said Hayes. "The hope is that they score against the tough competition and are named All-American."
MURFREESBORO, Tenn. – Two Middle Tennessee men's track & field athletes are slated to compete in the NCAA Indoor Track & Field competition in Birmingham, Alabama March 11-12.
Event: NCAA Indoor Track & Field Championships
Date: March 11-12
Site: Birmingham, Alabama
Friday Start Times: Field Events 5 p.m. | Track Events 5:30 p.m.
Saturday Start Times: Field Events 3:30 p.m. | Track Events 4 p.m.
Results: ncaa.com
Who Made It?
Eliud Rutto and Vincent Okot each qualified for the NCAA Indoor Track & Field Championships that will be hosted in Birmingham, Alabama.
Rutto qualified for the 800 meter after finishing third at the Iowa State Classic Feb. 13. His time ranks as the sixth fastest in the NCAA.
Okot qualified in the triple jump, bounding 16.08 meters at the Vanderbilt Opener Dec. 5, 2015. The Uganda native's distance ranks as the 13th best in the NCAA.
Familiar Location
The two Blue Raiders return to Birmingham for the third time this season, as Middle Tennessee competed in the Emory Invitational in January and the Conference USA Indoor Championships in February.
Coach Dean Hayes
"The NCAA is the epitome, whether it is cross country, indoor or outdoor track," said head coach Dean Hayes. "It is what the ultimate goal is for our athletes and obviously it is the elite that are the ones that get there."
"Rutto is definitely in the elite, as he ran 1:46 (in the 800) indoors and 1:45 (in the 800) outdoors, placed twice in the NCAA and his resume puts him in the elite category," Hayes stated. "For Vincent, it will be his first time competing in the NCAA and he does have a performance that merits him being there. It puts him in the top group in the collegiate ranks."
"It is great to be there and it is fun to watch these people develop enough to get there," said Hayes. "The hope is that they score against the tough competition and are named All-American."
Players Mentioned
XC/Dist.
/ Track & Field/Cross CountryBlue Raider Breakdown Postgame Show - September 20th
Sunday, September 21
MTSU Football vs Marshall post-game conference - 9/20/25
Sunday, September 21
2025 Blue Raider Sports Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony
Saturday, September 20
Raider Report Week 4 - MTSU vs. Marshall University
Friday, September 19
