May 24, 2005

A program-best six athletes will head to New York this weekend to represent the Florida Atlantic University women's track team at the NCAA East Regional Track and Field Championships hosted by Manhattan College. The top five finishers in each event are guaranteed a spot in next month's NCAA Championships in Sacramento.

"Our goal in the past was to qualify for regionals, but now we have our sights set on qualifying for the NCAA Championships," said Owls' head coach Alex Smolka. "This is a sort of reward for them to be able to go up there and compete on such a big stage. It shows how much hard work we've done this season."

The first FAU athletes to appear at Icahn Stadium on Randall's Island on Friday will be the 4x100m relay team of junior Jian Jones, sophomore Yanique Booth, senior Daquia McCoy and junior Marilyn Stephens. The Owls, whose best time of 45.28 this season ranks them eighth among teams in the region, will be in lane five of their heat that includes national powerhouse South Carolina and Florida International.

At approximately 4:30pm on Friday, Booth will return to the track to run in her 100m hurdles preliminary heat. Booth's season and personal best time of 13.55 seconds, set at the Golden Knight Twilight meet back in April, ranks her 16th in the region and 44th in the country. Joining Booth in her heat will be Miami's Amber Williams and South Carolina's Ronnetta Alexander, who has the region's fourth-fastest time this year.

Booth's 4x100m relay teammate, Stephens, will also return to the track later in the day on Friday to attempt to qualify for Saturday's 400m final. Her regional qualifying time of 54.32 seconds came at the A-Sun Championship, where she finished second, and ranks her 20th in the region. Stephens will be in lane five in her heat, just inside South Carolina freshman Natasha Hastings, who has the fourth-fastest time in the NCAA this season.

Saturday will feature finals for all events, including a sectioned final for the 4x400m relay, the meet's final race. Senior Helenor Wilson, sophomore Lindsay Glover and Stephens will be joined by either Jones or McCoy in FAU's entry for the event. Running out of lane seven in section two of the final, the Owls are ranked 15th in the region and will face stiff competition from Pennsylvania, FSU and Virginia in their section.

In all events except for the 4x400m relay, the four heat winners plus the next four fastest runners or teams will qualify for the final. The top five finishers in each final will qualify for the NCAA Championships.

Live results from New York will be available via www.ncaasports.com.