MOBILE, Ala. — Nine South Alabama track and field athletes have qualified for the NCAA Division I East Preliminary Round, giving the Jaguars entries in 10 events at the regional meet.
The East Preliminary Round runs May 29-31 at the University of North Florida’s Hodges Stadium in Jacksonville, Fla. Athletes who advance from the regional move on to the NCAA Outdoor Championships.
Men’s Qualifiers
Five South Alabama men earned spots. Freshman Renaldo Frechou and senior Adam Patterson each qualified in the hammer throw. Connor Smith reached the preliminary round in the pole vault for the second straight season.
Jan-Louw Kotze qualified in the discus, and Patrick Rohr earned a place in the 3,000-meter steeplechase.
Women’s Qualifiers
Senior Noelle Jones is the only Jaguar entered in two events, qualifying in both the high jump and the javelin. It is the third time in her career that Jones has qualified in the javelin, following trips in 2011 and 2012.
Two other seniors are returning to the preliminary round for the third consecutive year. Leah Hixon qualified in the javelin, and Bobbie Williams qualified in the hammer throw.
Freshman Kaitlyn Beans completes the South Alabama group after qualifying in the triple jump.
South Alabama Qualifiers
- Renaldo Frechou (Fr.) — men’s hammer throw
- Adam Patterson (Sr.) — men’s hammer throw
- Connor Smith — men’s pole vault
- Jan-Louw Kotze — men’s discus
- Patrick Rohr — men’s 3,000-meter steeplechase
- Noelle Jones (Sr.) — women’s high jump, women’s javelin
- Leah Hixon (Sr.) — women’s javelin
- Bobbie Williams (Sr.) — women’s hammer throw
- Kaitlyn Beans (Fr.) — women’s triple jump
South Alabama competes in the Sun Belt Conference. Six of the Jaguars’ 10 entries in Jacksonville are in the throwing events.
