CEDAR CITY, Utah - May 21 - Southern Utah will have a total of ten student-athletes donning the Scarlet and White at the NCAA Track and Field National West Preliminary meet next Weekend in Austin, Texas. The delegation will include six women and four men with a chance for each to advance to the NCAA Track and Field National Championships the second week in June.
The Thunderbirds will compete in a total of 12 events as Sharla Manuele and Kristi Koplin have qualified for multiple disciplines. Manuele will compete in the women's 1,500 and 5,000-meters with Koplin competing in the women's discus and hammer.
The women's group will also be comprised of Christina Day (400-meters), Shaye Maurer (100-meter hurdles), Ashley Morrison (hammer throw) and Jacki Stoddard in the javelin. Stoddard's mark of 144 feet six inches during the Summit League Outdoor Track and Field Championships marked a new school record for the senior.
The men will be represented by Kodai Kusano in the men's 110-meter hurdles, Wade Nielson in the men's high jump, Carlos Valle in the men's discus and Forrest Ledbetter in the men's javelin. Both Valle and Nielson will be making a return trip to the NCAA National Preliminaries meet as both have qualified in the past.
"This is a great individual accomplishment for all of these athletes," head coach Eric Houle said. "This really shows how good our program really is in the country with ten athletes advancing to one of only two regions. This was one of the toughest years to qualify for regionals and it is great to have a solid group to represent Southern Utah."
