Full Meet Selections/Schedule NCAA Release INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. – The official selections have now been made for the qualifying individuals who will make the trip to Allendale, Mich. to compete in the 2015 NCAA Division II Outdoor Track & Field National Championship. The No. 11 Lady Buffs and No. 13 Buffs of West Texas A&M have filled the list and will be sending an outstanding program-high 24 athletes to compete on the national stage, as announced by the NCAA Tuesday evening.
Twelve men and 12 women will represent the maroon WT at nationals, which will be held May 21-23 for the second-consecutive year at Grand Valley State University in Allendale, Mich. Those athletes will do so in 19 separate events, as three relays made the cut along with several individuals in multiple events.
"This is a testament to all the hard work that these coaches and student-athletes put in to have this many advance to an NCAA Championship," stated head coach
Darren Flowers. "The support we get from the community and our administration goes a long way as well. Our main focus now is finishing strong and making a statement at the championships. I know this team is hungry to prove it is one of the best programs in the country."
BUFFS Name (Event, National Seed)Kemarki Absalom (4x100m Relay, 13
th)
Paul Alongo (Long Jump, 4
th)
Jerell Banks (4x100m Relay, 13
th)
Damien Bourguin (400mH, 4
th)
Tommy Curry (4x100m Relay, 13th)
Arnau Erta (110mH, 6
th)
Lorenzo Johnson (110mH, 3
rd/4x100m Relay, 13
th)
Duke Kicinski (Discus, 15
th)
*
Fabian Mueller (4x100m Relay, 13
th)
Baptiste Moreu (1500m, 11
th)
Benoit Nadin (Triple Jump, 8
th)
Zach Weatherly (Shot Put, 16
th/Discus, 12
th)
LADY BUFFS Name (Event, National Seed)Shanice Cameron (100m, 14
th/200m, 19
th/4x100m Relay, 5
th)
Alba Casanovas (400mH, 18
th/4x400m Relay, 12
th)
Holly Cunigan (Shot Put, 10
th)
Marion Gatignol (Triple Jump, 21
st)
Rhemecka Graham (4x400m Relay 12
th)
Mireia Guarner (1500m, 10
th/5000m, 21
st)
Sharon Kwarula (100mH, 2
nd/400mH, 2
nd/4x400m Relay, 12
th)
Bri Leeper (4x100m Relay 5
th)
Malika Ouedraogo (Triple Jump, 10
th)
Jasmine Pitts (4x100m Relay, 5
th)
Libby Strickland (200m, 18
th/High Jump, 13
th/4x100m Relay, 5
th)
Sommer Wilder (4x400m Relay, 12
th)
Two Buffs qualified in multiple events, those being juniors
Lorenzo Johnson (110mH & 4x100m Relay) and
Zach Weatherly (Shot Put & Discus). Of the 12 men, an impressive seven have already racked up All-America honors in previous trips. All-America distinction, starting in the 2015 indoor/outdoor seasons, is categorized into First-Team and Second-Team honors, with First-Team being awarded to the top-eight individuals and/or relay teams in each event, while Second-Team is given to 9
th-12
th place in those events. Five of the Buffs on the list made the trip to Allendale during the 2014 outdoor season.
For the Lady Buffs, three athletes will be competing in three events each, those being juniors
Shanice Cameron (100m, 200m, & 4x100m Relay) and
Libby Strickland (200m, High Jump, & 4x100m Relay) and senior
Sharon Kwarula (100mH, 400mH, & 4x400m Relay). Junior
Alba Casanovas qualified in two events (400mH & 4x400m Relay). Five of the Lady Buffs have already won All-America recognition in their careers at WT while five also qualified for last year's outdoor championship.
Two athletes from WT will be making the trip in their freshman season,
Duke Kicinski for the men and
Sommer Wilder for the women.
As 24 is a program-high for the programs combined, the 12 men and 12 women each are also program-highs for each team at a NCAA National Championship. This is also the second time in program history that the Lady Buffs have qualified two relays for nationals. They did so with the 4x100m and 4x400m at the 2013 National Championship in Pueblo, Colo.
Tying program bests as well during outdoor competition, the Buffs and Lady Buffs each placed second at the 2015 Lone Star Conference Track & Field Championship this past weekend. During the process, some excellent individual and team performances were recorded as the men and women combined to win nine individual/relay events. Additionally, on Monday, 21 athletes were tabbed USTFCCCA All-Region in 29 different events.
WT will have this weekend off before the qualifying individuals travel to Allendale to compete in the NCAA Division II Outdoor Track & Field Championship. The meet will be held at the GVSU Track & Field Complex on May 21-23. For additional updates, follow @WTAMUTrackXC on Twitter.
Complete selections for the championship can be found by utilizing the link at the top of the page. Live results and heat sheets (when available) can be found on the same site, managed by Prime Time Timing.
*Mueller will be making the trip as an alternate and will compete in the men's 4x100m in place of an athlete listed on the official qualifying list
