Track Concludes NCAA East Prelims With Ten More Qualifiers

Saturday, May 27

Jacksonville, FL

University of Georgia

NCAA East Regional

Track Concludes NCAA East Prelims With Ten More Qualifiers

May 27, 2023 | Track & Field

Day 4 Results

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. --- The Bulldogs added 10 more qualifiers to conclude the NCAA East Prelims Saturday.

Elena Kulichenko cleared both of her high jump bars to finish at the top of the standings and the 4x100-meter and 4x400m relay teams both clinched spots at Nationals to highlight the final day's action.

Thanks to the additional qualifying entries on day four, Georgia finished with 23 qualifiers out of the Prelims.

There were 48 competitors from the East Region in every individual event and 24 in the relays.  The NCAA West Prelims was running simultaneously in Sacramento with the same format.  The top 12 in each event from both regions advanced to the NCAA Outdoor Championships in Austin, Texas, on June 7-10.

Similar to the NCAA Championships, this meet is set up where one gender competes one day and then the other gender competes the next, and that pattern is followed all four days.  The women wrapped up the action at North Florida's facility with eight more competitors and two relays in eight events earning an invitation to Austin, Texas: Elena Kulichenko (high jump), Titiana Marsh, Mikeisha Welcome (triple jump), Kaila Jackson, Autumn Wilson, Brandee Presley, Aaliyah Butler (4x100m relay), Butler (400m), Jackson (200m, 100m), Presley (100m), Dominique Mustin (400m hurdles), Mustin, Haley Tate, Butler, Presley (4x400m relay).

On Friday, the men completed their two days of competition with six more qualifiers: Keshaun Black, Matthew Boling, Christopher Morales Williams and Elija Godwin (4x100m relay), Godwin (400m), Will Sumner (800m), Caleb Cavanaugh (400mH), Boling (200m) and Godwin, Boling, Morales Williams and Sumner (4x400m relay).

Thursday brought another five automatic qualifiers for Georgia who punched their tickets to the NCAA Outdoor Championships: Ana da Silva (hammer throw, shot put), Julia Harisay, Erin McMeniman (javelin), Titiana Marsh (long jump).

On Wednesday, the Bulldogs qualified their first two competitors for the final rounds as Marc Minichello (javelin) and Alencar Pereira (hammer throw) finished in the qualifying top 12.

One of the Bulldogs who traveled as a relay alternate is the national leader in the decathlon and has earned the right to skip the Prelims by automatically qualifying for the NCAA Championships.  College record holder Kyle Garland most recently won the Southeastern Conference title with a meet record score of 8,589, which ranks second on the all-time collegiate list.

Live Results: For results between Wednesday and Saturday, please click on: http://gado.gs/aly

Live Stream: The NCAA East Prelims will be live streamed by ESPN all four days.

The Lowdown: Kulichenko passed on her first two heights and then cleared a pair of bars on her first try, including at 1.82 meters/ 5 feet, 11 ½ inches to finish atop the high jump standings.

The Georgia women had a pair of competitors punch their tickets in the triple jump.  Marsh, who has now qualified for nine NCAA Championships during her five-year career, put a mark of 13.51m/44-4 in the middle of her series to take second while Welcome was third with a third and final attempt measuring 13.50m/44-3.50.  Marsh also qualified in the long jump.

The Lady Bulldogs qualified a duo in the 100m quarterfinal.  Jackson was third in the opening heat with an 11.09 to take seventh overall while Presley was fourth in the second heat and 10^th overall after crossing the finish line in 11.11.

Finishing second in their heat, the Lady Bulldog 4x100m relay team took third overall thanks to a time of 43.35 to lock down a spot in two weeks.

Jackson also recorded a qualifying showing in the 200m as the true freshman was second in the third heat and fifth overall with a 22.72.

Butler, yet another freshman sprinter, took control of the third heat in the 400m and was fourth overall after completing her laps in 52.23.

Mustin snuck in to the final rounds in the 400m hurdles with a 57.56, which was 10^th overall in the quarterfinal round.

The Georgia women wrapped up the meet for UGA by qualifying in the 4x400m relay with a 3:33.36.  This was the third-fastest time in the second heat and eighth overall in Saturday's action.

Results and recaps from the NCAA East Prelims will be found at georgiadogs.com.  News and updates from Georgia's track and field and cross country teams are always located on Twitter/Instagram at @UGATrack.

Day 1 NCAA Championships Final Qualifiers (MEN)
Name                          Event                           Place / Mark
Marc Minichello    Javelin                         3^rd  / 74.74m/245-2
Alencar Pereira           Hammer Throw   3^rd / 70.98m/232-10
Day 2 (WOMEN)
Julia Harisay                Javelin                         9^th / 48.38m/158-9
Titiana Marsh   Long Jump                10^th / 6.24m/20-5.75
Ana da Silva    Hammer Throw          11^th / 62.27m/204-3
Erin McMeniman   Javelin                       11^th / 48.15m/157-11
Ana da Silva                Shot Put 12^th / 16.60m/54-5.50
Day 3 (MEN)
Godwin, Boling, Morales Williams, Sumner 1^st / 3:04.71
4x400m
Elija Godwin 400m                           2^nd / 46.05
Will Sumner 800m                           2^nd / 1:49.22
Black, Boling, Morales Williams, Godwin   7^th / 39.62
4x100m relay
Matthew Boling 200m                           8^th / 20.20
Caleb Cavanaugh        400mH                        10^th / 51.26
Day 4 (WOMEN)
Elena Kulichenko High Jump                   1^st / 1.82m/5-11.50
Titiana Marsh Triple Jump                 2^nd / 13.51m/44-44
Mikeisha Welcome Triple Jump                 3^rd / 13.50m/44-3.50
Jackson, Wilson, Presley, Butler                     3^rd / 43.35
4x100m relay
Aaliyah Butler 400m                           4^th / 52.23
Kaila Jackson               200m                           5^th / 22.72
Kaila Jackson               100m                           7^th / 11.09
Mustin, Tate, Butler, Presley
4x400m relay              8^th / 3:33.36
Brandee Presley          100m                           10^th / 11.11
Dominique Mustin 400mH                        10^th / 57.56