Stephen F. Austin
NCAA West Preliminary Rounds
Kerley, Mathenge Secure Spots to 2016 NCAA Championships
5/27/2016 12:00:00 AM | Track & Field
2016 NCAA West Preliminary Round
Lawrence, Kansas • Rock Chalk Park (University of Kansas)
Info Center • Live Results
LAWRENCE, Kan. – The Stephen F. Austin track and field team sent two of its athletes through to the 2016 NCAA Championships on Friday at the NCAA West Preliminary Round at Kansas’ Rock Chalk Park. Senior Charles Mathenge qualified for nationals in the 10,000-meter run and sophomore My’Lik Kerley punched his ticket in the 400-meter run.
In his second career regional meet, Kerley left it all on the track to earn his first ever trip to nationals in the quarter mile. The Taylor, Texas native (Taylor HS) posted a new personal best time of 46.33 seconds to finish second in his heat and place sixth overall out of 48 competitors. The mark was good enough to edge his brother Fred from Texas A&M by one place as both siblings advanced.
Entering the regional meet with the 31st fastest time in the 10,000m, Mathenge made a huge move to become SFA’s first men’s distance runner to make it to nationals in track. He crossed in 30:02.03, claiming the 12th and final qualifying spot out of the 48-man field. The Kenyan’s first trip to nationals in track will be his third NCAA appearance overall after qualifying for the national cross country meet in each of the last two seasons.
Kerley and Mathenge will represent SFA at the NCAA Outdoor Track and Field Championships in Eugene, Oregon from June 8-11.
Junior Colby Mehmen also ran a good race in the morning’s 10,000m prelim. He was clocked at 30:32.09 to place 27th overall.
Sophomore Kerry Gleason led SFA’s two regional qualifiers in the 400-meter hurdles, finishing 19th out of 48 with a time of 51.87 seconds. Freshman teammate Garrett Moore ended in the 38th position with his mark of 53.32 seconds.
Aaron Piper also capped a solid season on Friday in the 100-meter dash. He used a 10.65-second burst to finish 38th out of 48 men in the event. He was just 0.29 seconds off the qualifying pace.
Isaiah Pittman was SFA’s top field performer on the day. He catapulted 23-9 (7.24m) in the men’s long jump to place 28th, capping a huge freshman campaign. Senior Trey Darty was right behind in 45th with a top jump of 22-0.75 (6.72m).
Cameron Meyer and Daven Murphree came just short of the qualifying standard in the men’s pole vault. They each mounted first attempt clearances at 16-10 (5.13m) but couldn’t make it over the next height after three good runs. The duo tied for 16th out of 48 overall.
The Lumberjack 4x400m relay will close SFA’s event entries in the West Preliminaries on Saturday afternoon at 2:50 p.m. Kerley will anchor the 10th fastest seeded relay in the region while trying to improve on SFA’s 15th place finish from last year. A combination of Johnathan Joe, D’Lance Sharp, Will Gibson and Tedrick Hawkins will join him on the quest.
SFA’s NCAA West Preliminary Round Results
400 Meters
6. My’Lik Kerley (46.33)*
10,000 Meters
12. Charles Mathenge (30:02.03)*
27. Colby Mehmen (30:32.09)
400-Meter Hurdles
19. Kerry Gleason (51.87)
38. Garrett Moore (53.32)
100 Meters
38. Aaron Piper (10.65)
Long Jump
28. Isaiah Pittman (23-9)
45. Trey Darty (22-0.75)
Pole Vault
T-16. Cameron Meyer (16-10)
T-16. Daven Murphree (16-10)
* – NCAA Qualifier
-SFA-
