Davis, Orji and Hall place in top four of long jump, along with Gusin qualifying in high jump for Bulldogs

By Erik Boal, DyeStat Editor

There were a couple of anxious moments Thursday at the Division 1 East Regionals in Tampa, Fla., but Georgia’s female jumpers continued to position themselves to contend for titles in two weeks at the NCAA championship meet.

Reigning women’s long jump champion Kate Hall needed a 20-6.25 (6.25m) leap on her third attempt to elevate from 12th to fourth to secure a qualifying berth to compete June 6 at Hayward Field in Eugene, Ore.

Perhaps even more tense was national co-leader Tatiana Gusin needing to clear 5-10.75 (1.80m) in the high jump on her third attempt to secure one of 12 berths for the finals. LSU freshman Kaitlyn Walker won a five-athlete jumpoff by clearing 5-10.75 to earn the final spot.

Freshman Tara Davis and senior Keturah Orji took the top two spots in the long jump for the Bulldogs with marks of 21-0.75 (6.42m) and 21-0 (6.40m), with 20-2.25 (6.15m) the final national qualifier. Another Georgia freshman Lynna Irby led all qualifiers in the first round of the 400 in 50.77 seconds.

Florida’s Avione Allgood won the women’s javelin with a throw of 180-1 (54.90m), with 156-8 (47.76m) the cutoff to advance.

Janeah Stewart of Ole Miss prevailed in the women’s shot put with a mark of 57-5 (17.50m), with 52-9.50 (16.09m) the final qualifier.

Georgia junior Denzel Comenentia was victorious in the men’s hammer with a throw of 241-1 (73.48m), with the cutoff to advance to Eugene at 218-8 (66.64m).

Akron senior Terrell McClain led all long jumpers with a wind-legal leap of 26-1.50 (7.96m). The final national qualifier jumped 25-1.24 (7.65m) to advance.

On the track, the men’s 10,000 produced an impressive stretch battle involving Alabama’s Vincent Kiprop (29:16.49) and Campbell’s Lawrence Kipkoech (29:16.72), with the final qualifying spot at 29:37.81.

Louisville freshman Dorcas Wasike won the women’s 10,000 in 33:46.35, with only three athletes running under 34 minutes. The cutoff to advance to the national final was 34:23.92.

LSU senior Aleia Hobbs led all qualifiers in the 100 in a wind-legal 10.98, with Kentucky freshman Sydney McLaughlin clocking 54.78 in the first round of the 400 hurdles.

Clemson senior Fellan Ferguson led all qualifiers in the 800 in 2:03.20, with New Hampshire senior Elinor Purrier setting the standard at 4:16.71 in the 1,500.

Florida State’s Andre Ewers produced a wind-legal 10.08 in the men’s 100, with Kentucky freshman Dwight St. Hillaire leading all qualifiers in the 400 at 45.08 and North Carolina’s Kenny Selmon clocking 48.98 in the 400 hurdles.

Clemson’s John Lewis produced the fastest time in the opening round of the men’s 800 at 1:47.81, with Virginia Tech’s Diego Zarate leading all 1,500 qualifiers in 3:45.60.