LEXINGTON, Ky. – The NCAA Division I Men's and Women's Track and Field and Cross Country Committee announced the qualifying athletes for the NCAA East First Round meet in Lexington, Kentucky beginning on May 22. Eleven athletes from the High Point track and field teams have qualified for the first rounds, with six from the men's team and five from the women's team. The 11 athletes will represent HPU in 12 events, as Chris Van Niekerk will compete in two throwing events.
 
May 22-25, 2024 | Lexington, Kentucky 
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Deron Dudley will represent the purple and white in the men's 100m dash after clocking a 10.13 time during the season at the Texas Relays. He ranks 28^th nationally and 4^th in the Southeast Region. He will compete in the first round of the men's 100m dash on Wednesday, May 22 at 7:00 p.m. The top 24 runners will move on and compete on Friday, May 24 at 6:35 p.m.
 
Ranking nationally in two events, Chris Van Niekerk will represent HPU in the men's shot put and discus events. In the shot put he sits 32^nd nationally and 7^th in the Southeast region after throwing a program and Big South record 18.77m at the Big South Championships. In the discus, he ranks 28^th nationally and 4^th in the Southeast region with a 58.76m throw at the Bob Davidson Team Challenge. Van Niekerk will throw shot put on Wednesday, May 22 at 6:30 p.m. and the discus on Friday, May 24 at 1:00 p.m. The top 12 in both events will advance to the NCAA Championships in Eugene, Oregon.
 
Reid Holloway qualified in the men's pole vault after posting a program record and personal best 5.23m bar at the Charlotte Invitational this season. He currently ranks 63rd nationally and eighth in the Southeast region. He will vault on Wednesday, May 22 at 6:30 p.m. The top 12 vaulters will advance to the NCAA Championships in Eugene, Oregon.
 
In the men's high jump, two Panthers have qualified for the NCAA East First Round. Andrew Taylor and Shaun Thomas are neck and neck in the national and regional polls for week eight. Both rank 38^th nationally and sixth regionally in the Southeast region after clearing 2.14 meters at the Big South Championships. The two will compete on Friday, May 24 at 2:00 p.m. The top 12 competitors in the high jump will advance to the NCAA Championships in Eugene, Oregon.
 
In the men's 5000m, Othamane El Gharissi has qualified after posting a 13:50.42 personal best and program record time at the Bryan Clay Invitational and will compete on Friday, May 24 at 8:10 p.m. in the semifinals. The top 12 runners will move on to Eugene, Oregon for the Championships.
 
Dae'Nitra Hester has qualified in the women's 400m race after recording a personal and program best 53.46 time at the Big South Championships. She will compete on Thursday, May 23 at 7:25 p.m. The top 24 times will move on to the quarterfinals on Saturday, May 25 at 6:50 p.m.
 
Lindsay Cooper has qualified and will represent HPU in the women's 400m hurdles. She ranks 60^th nationally and fifth in the Southeast region after posting a personal best time of 58.41. Cooper will compete on Thursday, May 23 at 8:20 p.m. The top 24 hurdlers will move on to the quarterfinals on Saturday, May 25 at 6:50 p.m.
 
Qualifying in the women's 10,000m, Katie Taylor will represent High Point on Thursday, May 23 at 9:10 p.m. in the semifinals. The top 12 runners will advance to the NCAA Championships in Eugene, Oregon.
 
Representing the women in the field events, Auriane Viola will be competing in the women's pole vault. She qualified after recording a season best 4.15m at the Big South Championships and will compete on Thursday, May 23 at 6:30 p.m.
 
Rounding out the week at the NCAA East First Round, Sydney Koker will compete on Saturday, May 25 at 2:00 p.m. in the women's high jump. She cleared an outdoor season best, 1.76m at the Big South Championships last week. The top 12 athletes will advance to the NCAA Championships in Eugene, Oregon.