Thompson and Palmer Ready for NCAA National Championship Meet
6/9/2015 12:00:00 AM | Track & Field
Meet Notes | Live Results | Schedule of Events | Watch | Practice Photos
Palmer's National Semifinal Race: Wednesday, June 10 -- 6:10 p.m. PST -- Watch: ESPNU
Thompson's National Semifinal Race: Thursday, June 11 -- 6 p.m. PST -- Watch: ESPN
EUGENE, Ore. -- Making return trips to the NCAA National Championship Meet, junior Evann Thompson in the women's 400 meter hurdles and sophomore Desmond Palmer in the men's 400 meter hurdles will represent the University of Pittsburgh track and field team at Hayward Field this week on the campus of Oregon.
Thompson and Palmer both qualified for Eugene by finishing inside the top 12 at the NCAA East Preliminary Meet two weeks ago in Jacksonville, Fla. Thompson was second in her quarterfinal heat which earned her an automatic berth into the National Championship Meet, while Palmer was fourth in his heat and 11th overall, earning one of the final three non-automatic berths.
Last year in Eugene, Palmer earned Second Team All-American accolades, while Thompson achieved Honorable Mention All-American status. Both will look to make the final heat of the 400MH for the first time in their careers.
PALMER EYES A NATIONAL TITLE:
Sophomore Desmond Palmer will be one of the favorites to win the national title as he enters the championship meet with the country's third fastest time of the season. Palmer's time of 49.41 came when he won the ACC title a month ago in Tallahassee.
Palmer will have his work cut out for him after qualifying 11th in the East Region and 21st overall including the West Region. Palmer is coming off a sub-par performance at the East Prelims where he ran a time of 51.05. He will not have a preferred lane in the national semifinal race, but will still be one of the favorites to make the final heat and contend for a national title.
THOMPSON HITTING HER STRIDE:
Thompson will be seeded eighth overall heading into Thursday's national semifinal. Thompson ran a 57.02 in Jacksonville which was the second best time of her career. That time was the sixth fastest in the East Region and the eighth fastest overall at the NCAA Prelims including the West Regional.
After a slow start to the season, Thompson has found her groove over the past two months and is running at the top of her game. Thompson placedsecond at the ACC Championship Meet last month, and two weeks ago she was just two tenths of a second off her career best of 56.87 which she set last year as a sophomore.
HOW TO WATCH/FOLLOW:
The entire meet will be televised by the ESPN family of networks, including the WatchESPN App. Fans can also receive updates by following @PittTFandXC on Twitter and Instagram, and Pitt Track and Field on Facebook.