Men's 4x4 Relay Qualifies for Nationals

Saturday, May 28

Jacksonville, Fla.

All Day

Pitt

NCAA East Preliminary

Men's 4x4 Relay Qualifies for Nationals

5/28/2016 12:00:00 AM | Track & Field

May 28, 2016

Results

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. - Pitt senior track student-athletes Donnell Taylor and Chris Tate and juniors Brylan Slay and Desmond Palmer qualified for nationals in the men's 4x400 meter relay after sneaking into the top-12 in the final event of the NCAA East Preliminaries Saturday night.

"I would consider our last day of competition and the whole weekend a success," head coach Alonzo Webb said. "We are in what I consider the toughest region to qualify to the national championship. We are heading to Oregon with the purpose of making the final and bring home some All-American accolades."

"I'm most proud of our men's 4x400 team that finally accomplished something they set out to do a year ago and that was making it to the national championship," Webb added. "These young men have been through a lot together and I'm so happy for them, especially our seniors."

The Panthers ran in the first of three heats, with the top three out of each heat automatically qualifying for nationals along with the next three fastest times. Pitt remained in first or second throughout the majority of the race, but fell short in the final 100 meters taking fifth with a time of 3:06.24. As they awaited their fate in the stands, they soon saw Pittsburgh with a "q" next to it indicating the 12^th qualifying spot.

Prior to the relay, the women's 5,000 meter run featured a strong showing from freshman Gillian Schriever in her first appearance on the big stage. Schriever finished 10^th in her heat with a time of 16:28.95 and 18^th out of the total 48 competitors. Also in the 5K was senior Hillary Boxheimer who finished in the middle of the pack in her heat with a time of 16:56.95, placing 14^th.

"This weekend was such an accomplishment for the women's distance group," assistant coach Adam Bray said. "All three young ladies who qualified for this meet competed really well. Tonight in the 5K, Gillian and Hillary raced really well and even though they did not advance to the finals in Eugene, they represented what the future of Pitt distance looks like."

"Gillian had an outstanding race in her first regional meet as a freshman," Webb said. "She was not intimidated at all, and that says a lot about her mental toughness."

Earlier in the evening, Palmer looked to qualify for another individual event in the 110 meter hurdles, after punching his ticket in the 400 meter hurdles on Friday. Although running a personal-best 13.81, his time was 14^th-best, falling two short of qualifying for Eugene.

In the women's shot put, senior Racquel Williams finished 36^th overall after recording a mark of 14.70m on her final attempt. Her toss would not be enough to go to Oregon.

UP NEXT

Palmer and his relay team will head to the Historic Hayward Field in Eugene, Ore., June 8-11. For more information, visit the championship central page.