Three Advance to NCAA Championships

Photo by: Cheryl Treworgy/PrettySporty

5/27/2016 9:10:00 PM | Men's Cross Country and Track & Field, Track & Field/Cross Country

Ampomah back-to-back javelin winner

By: @MTAthletics

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – John Ampomah continued his dominance at the NCAA East Regional, while Sampson Laari and Eliud Rutto qualified for the NCAA Championship in the 800 meter at Hodges Stadium Friday.

Ampomah, who finished runner-up in the javelin at the 2015 NCAA Championship, became a back-to-back NCAA East Regional Champion in the javelin. The Ghana native used his second throw of 73.94 meters (242-7) to claim the individual title. Southern Miss's Emorn Gibbs netted the second-best throw on his final attempt of the meet, throwing 73.14 meters (239-11).

In the 800 meter, Laari and Rutto each finished in 1:47.15, with Laari gaining the automatic qualifier spot in the second section of the 800. The Kumasi, Ghana native tallied his third-place finish in a race that came down to the wire with Wake Forest's Robert Heppenstall winning the section in 1:47.11 and Georgetown's Joseph White finishing second in 1:47.13.

Rutto, who finished fourth in the second section, also finished in 1:47.15 and had to wait one more heat to know his chance at another NCAA Championship.

Following the third and final heat of the 800, Rutto advanced with the second-fastest non-automatic qualifying time. Only Ole Miss's Holland Sherrer finished faster, concluding section one of the 800 in 1:47.13.

Geoffry Cheruiyot, who holds the Middle Tennessee 3,000-meter steeplechase record, finished in a nearly identical time to his record setting time at the C-USA Championship.

Cheruiyot finished 18th overall in 8:51.62, while at the C-USA Championship, Cheruiyot finished in 8:51.04 for the Blue Raider record.

In the women's 800 meter, Agnes Abu and Susan Aneno netted the next best chance to advance to the regional, finishing 16th and 18th, respectively.

Abu raced in the second section and tallied the seventh fastest time in the heat (2:05.34), while Aneno finished fourth in section three in 2:05.84.

Senior Pershawna Williams cleared 1.66 meters (5-5.25) in the high jump for 26th, while Josphine Kiptebeny conlcuded the final women's event of the day 39th in the 3,000-meter steeplechase (10:38.64).

Middle Tennessee continues competition at the NCAA East Regional Saturday with the men's high jump at 5:30 p.m.

Men's Results
Javelin
1. John Ampomah (73.94m/242-7) Q
28. Atsu Nyamadi (62.42m/204-9)

800 Meter
7. Sampson Laari (1:47.15) Q
8. Eliud Rutto (1:47.15) q

3,000-Meter Steeplechase
18. Geoffry cheuiyot (8:51.62)

Women's Results
High Jump
26. Pershawna Williams (1.66m/5-5.25)

100-Meter Hurdles
44. Elizabeth Dadzie (13.873)

800 Meter
16. Agnes Abu (2:05.34)
18. Susan Aneno (2:05.84)

3,000-Meter Steeplechase
39. Josphine Kiptebeny (10:38.64)