Five Blue Raiders Qualify for NCAA OTF Championships - GoBlueRaiders.com

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BLOOMINGTON, Ind. – The Middle Tennessee men's and women's track and field teams showed up big at the NCAA East Preliminaries this weekend. Five Blue Raiders across seven events qualified for the NCAA Outdoor Track and Field Championships in Eugene, Oregon which kicks off Wednesday, June 8.
 
Graduate student Eusila Chepkemei was able to qualify for both the women's 1500 meter and 5000 meter in record-breaking fashion. During the women's 1500 meter, Chepkemei ran 4:12.67, breaking her previous program record of 4:13.16 set in the same stadium. Her time earned her second in her heat and fifth overall. After obliterating the previous 5000-meter record earlier in the season, she shaved just a hair off with a time of 15:52.54 Saturday night. She finished a few steps behind two Alabama stars, earning third in her heat and 10^th overall.
 

The junior, Alaba Akintola, fought wind and rain all weekend but came out on top in both the men's 100 meter and 200 meter. Running into a monster headwind of -0.6, Akintola earned second in his heat with a time of 10.18 seconds. During the men's 200-meter dash, Akintola reached a time of 20.61 seconds. He automatically qualified for the 100 meter and qualified by time for his display in the 200 meter.
 

The All-American, sophomore Omamuyovwi Erhire, nearly jumped out of the stadium, tying a season's best mark of 2.18 meters in the men's high jump. His mark on Saturday earned him a two-way tie for first place and automatically qualified him for a trip to Eugene.
 
Graduate student Abigail Kwarteng was a part of major NCAA preliminary-round history, being part of 11 jumpers in the East to clear a mark of 1.84 meters in the women's high jump. Her mark of 1.84 meters earned her a five-way tie in the East preliminaries for first place and an automatic bid to the NCAA Championships in June.
 

Last, but certainly not least, graduate student Esther Isa earned her third trip to the NCAA Championships after taking seventh in the women's triple jump. Her mark of 13.07 meters is her second best of this outdoor season and makes her the third Nigerian for the Blue Raiders to qualify for nationals.
 
Follow the Middle Tennessee Track & Field Team
Keep up with Blue Raider track & field on Facebook (Middle Tennessee Blue Raider XC/Track & Field), Twitter (@MT_TrackField), and Instagram (@mt_trackfield).
 

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Five Blue Raiders Qualify for NCAA OTF Championships - GoBlueRaiders.com
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