Track & Field | 5/26/2022 10:42:00 PM
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. – Four ladies who have grown leaps and bounds throughout the North Carolina A&T women's outdoor track and field season moved ahead to various Saturday night quarterfinal events with solid performances on Thursday.
During the second day of the 2022 NCAA East Preliminary Round (East regional) at Indiana University's Robert C. Haugh Track and Field Complex, which featured women's competitors, the Aggies had four to advance in five different events.
Freshman Grace Nwokocha led the way by advancing in the 100 and 200 meters. Senior Paula Salmon looked impressive in the 100-meter hurdles. Fellow seniors Delecia McDuffie (400m) and Ayoola Gbolade (800m) will also compete on Saturday.
Nwokocha started the day by dominating her heat in the 100. In her collegiate 100m debut on April 2 at the Florida Relays, she ran an 11.27. On Thursday, she ran a personal-best 11.08 (11.075) to finish just fractions of a second behind LSU's Favour Ofili (11.074) for the second-fastest first-round 100m.
The University of Kentucky's Abby Steiner had the fastest time with a wind-aided 10.99. Nwokocha's closest competitor in her heat was Florida State's Ka'Tia Seymour, who ran an 11.32. The 100m quarterfinal occurs at 6:35 p.m., Saturday.
Later in the day, Nwokocha secured her spot in the 200m quarterfinal scheduled for 7:50 p.m. Saturday. She crossed in 23.07 to win the fifth heat. She again finished ahead of Seymour, who crossed in 23.26.
Nwochoka won the 100 and 200m Big South Conference championships two weeks ago.
"Grace's progression is not surprising whatsoever," said A&T director of track and field programs, Duane Ross. "She has been working extremely hard since coming in January. She has all the tools to win this national championship this season."
Another national championship contender, Salmon, had the highest finish of any Aggie on Thursday. Salmon had the second-fastest time in the 100H with a time of 12.84. She dominated her heat, finishing ahead of second-place Imani Carothers of Georgia (13.47).
Salmon, a second-team All-American in the 100H last season, will look to improve upon that this season. But, first, she will need to qualify for the NCAA Outdoor Track and Field Championships on Saturday when she competes in the quarterfinal at 6:15 p.m.
"Paula is an absolutely great athlete," said Ross. "I love how she has progressed on the track, but more importantly, how she has grown in her knowledge of her event. She has the potential to be one of the best to ever do it."
McDuffie will compete in the 400m quarterfinals at 6:50 p.m. Saturday. McDuffie ran a 52.49 for the 15th-fastest qualifying time. McDuffie was coming off a Big South 400m title two weeks ago.
Gbolade, the second-place finisher in the 800m at the Big South championships, advanced to the 800m quarterfinal with a career performance on Thursday. Gbolade ran a personal-best 2:05.31 to win her heat ahead of Mississippi State's Sydney Steely (2:05.48). The 800m quarterfinal will go off at 7:05 p.m. Saturday.
"I'm so happy to see Ayoola advance," said Ross. "She is one of the toughest athletes I know. She thrives in high-pressure situations and will continue to race better through the rounds."
The east regionals will continue Friday with A&T's 4x100-meter relay team getting things started at 5 p.m.
