May 30, 2009
GREENSBORO, N.C. -
The North Carolina track and field teams wrapped up competition at the NCAA Track Regional in Greensboro, N.C. on Saturday as the women finished eighth and the men 22nd. Dominique Jackson claimed second in the 800-meter run as she helped lead the Tar Heel women to a top-10 showing. The NCAA Outdoor Championships will be held June 10-13 in Fayetteville, Ark.
Dominique Jackson, a sophomore, scored the highest points for UNC at the East Regional, recording eight for her second-place finish in the women's 800-meter run. Jackson's time of 2:07.06 gives her good standing in the event at the national championship.
Gabby Gioia, a sophomore, threw 44.69 meters in the women's javelin, which earned the Tar Heels one point for the regional.
The women's 4x100-meter relay timed a 44.69 final to capture a sixth place finish. Junior Vanneisha Ivy and freshmen Malai Walker, Cierra McGee and Tyler Ford were able to give three points to Carolina's Regional score. Ivy also earned an individual top-10 when she ran the 100-meter hurdles in 13.18, earning the Tar Heels another six points with a third place finish.
Sophomores Christine Johnson and LaToya James and freshmen Elizabeth Mott and Tasha Stanley finished sixth in the East Regional after racing the final of the women's 4x400-meter relay in 3:38.09.
Patience Coleman, a sophomore, captured 4.50 points for Carolina with a tie for fourth in the women's high jump.
Parker Smith scored for the men in the pole vault. The sophomore's 5.16-meter vault lifted him into eighth place and earned the men's team one point. Daniel Keller, a senior, also participated in the men's pole vault, reaching 5.06 meters but it was not enough to send the multis-man to the finals in that event. However, Keller will go to the NCAA National Championship in the heptathlon with teammate Mateo Sossah. Keller and Sossah qualified in the multis event during the ACC Championship.
In the men's triple jump, Austin Davis, who is a sophomore, secured fourth place in the Regional with a 16.16-meter leap. He tagged five points for the men's team.
Addie Bracy ran the 3000-meter steeplechase in 10:36.17 finishing 11th overall. Michelle Newman scored 12.15 meters in the women's triple jump. On the men's side, Scott Houston was unable to record a height in the pole vault.
Florida State claimed the women's regional title with 71 points, while Florida took the top spot on the men's side with an 84-point performance.
The NCAA National Championships will be held in Fayetteville, Ark., from June 10-13th.
