Pitt
NCAA Regional Championships
Palmer and Thompson Advance in 400MH at NCAA East Prelims
5/28/2015 12:00:00 AM | Track & Field
RESULTS | THOMPSON INTERVIEW | PALMER INTERVIEW
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. -- Everything went according to plan in the 400 meter hurdles for sophomore Desmond Palmer and junior Evann Thompson as each advanced to Friday's quarterfinals of the NCAA East Preliminary Meet at Hodges Stadium on the campus of North Florida. 
Both will now have an opportunity to qualify for the NCAA National Championship Meet which will be the site of the semifinals and finals. To qualify, Palmer and Thompson must finish in the top three of their quarterfinal heat tomorrow, or have one of the next three fastest times overall if they are not in the top three of their heat.
Palmer cruised to victory running out of lane eight in heat five. The owner of the nation's third fastest 400MH time, Palmer led from start to finish and eased up at the end to cross the line in a time of 51.28. The Second Team All-American from a season ago looks for a return trip to Eugene tomorrow night at 7:45 p.m.
Running in lane nine of heat four, Thompson came out of the gates aggressively in the first 200 meters of the race. The rest of the field caught up to her in the final turn, but Thompson held strong and finished second in her heat with a time of 58.37. Thompson, who was an Honorable Mention All-American in this event last year, looks to make her way back to Eugene tomorrow.
Freshman Laila Ismail also ran the 400MH and posted a time of 1:00.94, placing sixth in heat one and 42nd overall.
Junior Christopher Tate was in action running the open 400 meter dash. Tate was just shy of his PR by posting a 47.54 which placed him eighth in his heat and 39th overall.
In the opening events of the meet which began at Noon, seniors Taylor Slaney and Andrew Wells were in action in the women's javelin and the men's hammer throw.
Slaney's first of three throws was her best effort with a distance of 43.21m. That throw however, placed her 32nd overall and on the outside of qualifying for Eugene. Slaney finishes her career as the school record holder in the javelin (50.31m).
Coming off a school record performance in the men's hammer throw two weeks ago at the ACC Championship Meet (62.67m), Andrew Wells placed 31st overall at the East Regional Meet with his best throw of 60.43m on his third and final attempt. Wells will participate in the discus on Friday and will need to finish top-12 to make it to Eugene.  
Action at Hodges Stadium continues tomorrow with sophomore Ethan Shalaway throwing the javelin at Noon, followed by Wells in the discus at 4 p.m., and the men's and women's 400MH at 7:30 and 7:45 p.m., respectively. Click here for live results and also follow @PittTFandXC on Twitter and Instagram for updates.   
