By Alex Boggis, UT Martin Assistant Sports Information Director
MARTIN, Tenn. – The University of Tennessee at Martin will be represented at next week’s NCAA Division I Men’s and Women’s Outdoor Track and Field Championships East Preliminary as Ryan Ford (10k) and Darius Holland (long jump) each qualified in their respective events. The duo will compete in their prelim competitions on Wednesday, May 26.
The East Preliminary is scheduled for May 26-29 and will be hosted by the University of North Florida in Jacksonville, Florida. The qualifiers out of the region will advance to compete in the NCAA Division I Men’s and Women’s Outdoor Track and Field Championships held June 9-12 in Eugene, Oregon.
Ford looks to cap his decorated collegiate career on the national stage after becoming a NCAA qualifier in the 10k. A native of Huntsville, Ala., Ford is a three-time Ohio Valley Conference medalists – including finishing first in the 5k and second in the 10k at the OVC Outdoor Championship this season. He holds four program track records in the 3k, 5k (indoor and outdoor) and 10k. He posted his qualifying mark and a school record at the Drake Relays with a time of 29:15.55. He enters the East Preliminary seeded 37th.
Holland, a freshman from Ripley, Tenn., exploded onto the scene for the Skyhawks in his debut season becoming a NCAA qualifier in the long jump. After setting the school’s long jump record during the indoor season, he continued his record-setting campaign on the outdoor slate. He posted his qualifying mark and a school record at the Margaret Simmons Invite of 7.39 meters. He also earned medalist honors at the OVC Outdoor Championship with a third-place finish at 7.28 meters. He enters the East Preliminary seeded 47th.
Competition for the long jump is scheduled to begin at 2 p.m. CT on Wednesday, May 26 with the 10k slated for an 8:10 p.m. CT start.
Graphic courtesy of UT Martin Sports Information